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lli'^^'"^^^ STATES OF AMERICA. , 



ARTELOISE 



A EOMANCE 



OF 



KING ARTHUR AND KNIGHTS OF 
THE ROUND TABLE; 



BY 



J. DUNBAR HYLTON, M. D., LL. D., 

,/ 7 7 7 

AUTHOR OF "THE BRIDE OK GETTYSBURG," "BETRAYED," "THEPRiESlD- 
ICIDE," AND " THE HEIR OF LYOLYNN," ETC., ETC. 




PALMYRA, NEW JERSEY: 
THE HYLTON PUBLISHING COMPANY. 

1887. 



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CONTENTS. 



PART FIRST. (Page 1.) 



ARGUMENT 



The Origin of the Tale. 

Arthur, King of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. A 
Partial List of the Knights of the Round Table. Their Useful- 
ness. The Feast at Camelot. The Tournament ; Beau De Main 
is by King Arthur Declared Victor; is Crowned with a Wreath 
by Clotilda. A Description of that Maid. Her Birth and Edu- 
cation. An Old Man Enters at the Feast with a Sword. Hands 
the same to the King. All Endeavor to Draw it from the 
Sheath, and all Fail to do so except Beau De Main, who 
Draws it Easily. A Descri[)tion of the Sword. A Description 
of Arthur's Halls. The Old Man and Beau De Main go on a 
Quest. They Reach the Cave of a Dragon. A Description of 
the Monster. The Knight's Prayer for Victory. He Slays the 
Monster. He Passes with his Guide Through a Secret Passage 
to the Towers of Arteloise. A Description of Those Bulwarks. 
His Conquest of the Place, which Ends the First Day. 



PART SECOND. (Page 40.) 



Argument. 

Time— Night. The Knight with his Guide seeks an En- 
trance to the Towers. They see Wizards Dancing round a 
Skull, within which Burns a Light. They give Battle to the 
Knight and are Overthrown. He Extinguishes their Light by 
the Dragon's Blood. The Towers Reel and Rock, and over all 

III 



IV CONTENTS. 

Instantly is Wrought a Change. The Hymn of the Captives. 
They are sought for and set at Liberty, but their Succor arrives 
too late. They Die of Exliaustion while Drinking from a Foun- 
tain of Water. The Towers and all their Halls are Explored. 
The Strange and Wonderful Scenes therein Found. The Prophet 
of the Shrine. His Anger at seeing the Deathless Jew. The 
Jew Confronts him with equal Scorn. After a Wordy War 
the Prophet strikes his Shield with his Sword, which sets up 
a Terrible Noise. Then the Prophet Mysteriously Disappears. 



PART THIRD. (Page 80.) 

Argument. 

A Continuation of the Description of the Scenes of Wonder 
found within the Towers of Arteloise. The Sculptured Walls, 
Floors and Ceiling Described. The Guide's Sudden Disappear- 
ance. The Knight enters the Forbidden Halls, where Dwell 
the Spirits of Fire. He Fights with them and they are Over- 
thrown. Their Wonderful Book. He passes on to another 
Hall, and finds Clotilda and her Attendant Maidens l,ying on 
Couches in an Enchanted Sleep, brought about b}^ the Artifice 
of Merlin. He Overthrows all the Temptations of Sin. The 
Halls Catch on Fire. His Prayer for Deliverance. The Place 
is suddenly filled with a Polar Atmosphere, wliich as suddenly 
becomes Heated, and Expands and Blows the Place to Atoms, 
leaving Clotilda and her Maidens Unharmed and still Asleep. 



PART FOURTH. (Page 112.) 



Argument. 



Griselda, the Daughter of King Pellinore, meets the Knight 
on his Passage to another Tower, wherein is Heard Melodious 
•Music. Description of Griselda. She goes with the Knight to 



CONTENTS. V 

Slay a Dragon that has Guarded the Cyclops' Treasures for 
Two Thousand Years. They meet the Dragon at the Mouth of 
his Cavern. The Knight gives Battle to the Dragon, and while 
the Monster's Breast is Impaled on the boss of his Shield 
Griselda Pierces it to Death with Arrows from her Bow. At 
this Necromancy gives a Dying Groan. The Hills around 
Quake, and a General Change Overtakes the Appearance of the 
Yalley. The Moon Rises. How all Nature Looks under the 
Brightness of her Beams. Both the Maiden and the Knight 
tell' how they have Sought for the Holy Grail. Sweet Music 
issues from everything Around, and Lulls all Nature to Sweet 
Repose. Two Songs, coming from an LTnknown Source, are 
Sung and are Paradox. Again all Space and Earth are Teeming 
with Music. The Heavens shoAv Wonderful Signs, and a Bridge 
of Light Instantl}^ Spans from the Sky to the Hill wdiereon 
stand the Knight and Maiden, and a Throng of Angels come 
Descending on the Bridge, Bearing to the Knight and Maiden 
the Holy Grail. It is Given to the Two, and after the Foremost 
Angel Pours a Blessing on the Maid and Knight they take 
tlieir Departure over the bright Bridge of Light back to Heaven, 
which Ends the First Niulit. 



PART FIFTH. (Page 149 ) 



Argument. 

The Second Day Arrives. The Sunrise. How the Earth 
and all Nature are Delighted at his Coming, and how every- 
thing Shines, Grows and Teems with Life under the Glory of 
his Beams. Griselda Carries the Holy Grail to where Clotilda 
and her Maidens still Lie iu tlieir Euchanted Sleep. She Wakens 
them. Clotilda tells haw Merlin Wrought his Enchantment 
over them. Merlin's Sudden Appearance. A Description of 
hira. His Wishes. His Prophecies. Two Great Battles to be 



>1 



VI CONTENTS. 

Fought. He requests Beau De Main to go to the Polar Regions 
and bring away his Daughter, Ursula, Avho has there been Sleep- 
ing an Enchanted Sleep forever Six Hundred Years. Fate has 
Decreed that no one shall Waken her but Beau De Main. King- 
Arthur and his Knights arrive at the Towers of Arteloise. 'J'he 
Deathless Jew leads them to the Dragon's Cave, from which 
they carry the Enormous Treasures of the Giants of Old and 
their Cyclops Allies. A Description of the Wonderful Amount 
•of Treasure. Lions, Elephants and all manner of Beast are 
there found cast out of Solid Gold. The Knight, with the 
Deathless Jew, sets sail, which Ends the Second Day. As the 
Mortal-made Armor that he wears would be useless in Battle 
againstthe Polar Spirits lie has to obtain Arms wrought by Yulcan. 
His Guide steers the Barge to the Straits of Hercules. They 
enter the Mediterranean Sea and sail to the Isle of Sicil}' , where 
they enter the Gorge that leads them to the Forges of Vulcan. 
A Description of the Place. Vulcan measures the Knight for a 
Suit of Armor. His Forges glow and his three Cyclops Smiths 
aid in building the Armor. It is completed and the Knight 
dons it. A General Description of Vulcan's Wonderful Work- 
manship, of the Shield and its artistic engraving. A Spear ol' 
Enormous Size and Strength is next forged. Then an Axe of 
Redundant Brightness. Th*ni the Sword is forged by Vulcan 
and all three of his Cyclops Smitlis. Vulcan places a Vast 
Wedge on an Anvil, and, witli one terrific blow, cuts both Wedge 
and Anvil in two with the Sword, without the least injury to its 
keenness. The Kniglit with his Armor leaves Vulcan's Works, 
guided by the Jew. Tliey sail to the Polar Seas. A General 
Description of the Whole Place. The Beasts there found Frozen 
in the Ice. What caused the Polar Mountains of Ice. An Open 
Sea found. How it Originated, and for what Purpose. The 
Knight meets the Might of the Polar Spirits. A Battle ensues, 
in which those Spirits are Overthrown. Ursula found and roused 
from her Sleep. Is brought away to Britain. A Description 
of the Places they pass, which Ends the Second Night. 



CONTENTS. VII 

PART SIXTH. (Page 201.) 



Argument. 

The Birth, Life and Education of Ursula. Her Fondness 
for tiie Tourney, caused by the Teaching of her Sire, Merlin. 
Her Cruelty and Pride. The Knight carries her to the Halls of 
King Arthur, where the Extreme Beauty of her Charms creates 
Quite an Excitement amongsc the Heroes of the Round Table, 
and even on the King, A Herald enters, bearing a Broken Cross, 
and tells of the Approach of the Invading Roman Fleet. 
Amidst the Darkness and Confusion that ensues Ursula and the 
Jew depart and Night sets in, which closes the Third Day. 
The King orders the Fires for Signals of Distress to be lit on 
the Hill-tops, to warn his Allies of his and their own Danger. 
Their glow lights up the Hills, and soon the answering Signals 
are seen. The Forges are all fired and the old armor repaired, 
and new ones made. A General Description of the Stir and 
Activity displayed amongst the Troops throughout the Night. 
King Arthur, armed and on horseback, departs from his Follow- 
ers. His Adventures. His Prayer. The History of the Death- 
less Jew. His Mode of Setting Fire to the Roman Fleet. He 
suddenly Departs in Search of Beau de Main, and the King and 
Ursula are left alone on tlie Hill for the Night. Their Admira- 
tion for each other, which Ends the Third Night. 



PART SEVENTH. (Page 240.) 



Argument. 

Day Dawns. The Gathering of the Allies and Preparing for 
Battle. Their Appearance in Battle Array. The Names of some 
of King Arthur's Knights. A Description of the Roman Host. 
TliB Appearnnce of the Prophet of the Shrine. He Marslials 
his Host for Battle. The First Day's Battle. The Dctermina- 



VIII CONTENTS. 

tion of either Host to Win. Tlie Heroic Deeds of Arthur and 
Beau de Main. Ursula and tlie Deathless Jew with their Mirrors 
Fire the Roman i^'leet. Its Destruction, ^^ight closing in, puts 
an end to the First Day's Battle, which ends the Fourth Day. 
After Sentinels are placed to Watch the Enem}', the Britons 
take Rest and Refreshments. Arthur and Beau de Main Dis- 
cover Clotilda wounded on the Battle-Field amongst the Slain. 
How she became Wounded. Her Death. Their Sorrow over 
her Fate. They then both go to the ''I'ent of King Pellinore. A 
Description of that King. Arthur and his Knights join in the 
Feast that is there Spread. Pellinore Sings a Love Tale. AVhon 
the Song ends he finds Arthur and his Knights fast asleep. Day 
Dawns. Both Armies Drawn up in Battle Array. How they 
Looked. The Second Daj^'s Battle. The Fierceness of the Con- 
flict. A Knight sheathed in White Armor rides ui) to the Roman 
Line that walled in the Prophet from Harm. He breaks through 
it. Drives his Spear through the Prophet, and while he is in 
the act of Falling the Knight Cuts his Head off", and casts it up 
high in air to the view of all. The Desperate Struggle of Arthur, 
Beau de Main and Pellinore to save the life of the Knight in 
White Armor. He is killed by the Romans. The Earth Quakes, 
and Merlin arises amidst the Battle. His Magic Banner. It 
waA^es in Windless Air as in a Storm. A Description of the 
Banner. The Battle ends with the Total Destruction of the 
Roman Army. The Earth Quakes, and Merlin, wrapping his 
Banner around his child, departs mysteriously. A general 
silence ensues. All being Over-fatigued with the Toil of the Day, 
Rest where they are. Night having closed in. Griselda, witli the 
Holy Grail, meets Beau de Main. They exchange mutual Sen- 
timents of Love. The Deathless Jew Approaches them. Joins 
their Hands, Blesses them and tells them that he is a Rabbi and 
that they are Wed, which closes the Story. 



DEDICATION. 



To My Son. 



Among the many races found 

Within wide Nature's spacious bound 

Breathes there a maiden or a youth, 

Or aged dame, or man, forsooth, 

Wi»o does not lend a willing ear 

Strange stories of the Past to hear? 

Though they be wild and void of truth 

As is a rock of love or ruth, 

Be Avild as ever Fiction drew, 

Or in Romance's regions grew. 

If in the tale were love and woe, 

And pains and joys we .nortals know, 

And feel and love or hate and fear, 

The story finds a willing ear. 

The Arabian Nights sliall please 

Both old and young, on land or seas, 

While ages on their ilight proceed 

As in the past, where man can read. 

Though Homer's songs three thousand years 

Have sounded on the human ears, 

Three thousand years to come and moi-c 

His songs shall sound on every shore. 

Wherever breathes a human soul 

Whose feeling noble thoughts control. 

He'll be the rich, exhaustless mine, 

Where delighted sport the Sacred Nine. 

Wliju l)ut a boy behind my plow 

I sang his songs, and sing them now ; 

Nor shall he ever cease to charm 

Me through all toil, and it disarm 

IX 



DEDICATION. 



Of weariness, and pain and care, 
And all that doth make wear and tear 
On human tissue, but keep me strong, 
While toiling I shall sing his song. 
Ort when a boy my teachers sought 
On Euclid's page to bind my thought, 
Tn problems there ni_v mind invoh-e 








Archimedes might gladly solve. 
Away from them I swiftly slid, 
Within the woods all day I hid, 
And read Shah Namoh or the Cid, 
Or, foodlesR, there I dwelt all da}', 
Feasting on the Nibelungen Lay. 
Tasso's or Virgil's songs I read, 



DEDICATION. 

Or tales of Dante filled my head ; 
Nor in those da^'s I e'er forgot 
The immortal poet, Walter Scott. 
But all the bards of ancient time, 
Or mQdern daj's, whate'er their rhyme, 
Of Southern or of Northern clime. 
Of lands throughout the East or West, 
Old Ossian I then loved the best. 



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He was my solace, my delight, 
My joy b}" day, my dream by night. 
The more I conned him o'er and o'er 
The more he warmed my bosom's core. 
His tales of love, and war, and woe, 
Made all my soul with wonder glow. 
Whole daj's and nights did Ossian 's page 



XII DEDICATION. 

Enraptured all my soul engage. 
Fingal's great deeds, in war and peace. 
His triumphs, his glory's grand increase, 
My boyish soul with daring fraught, 
Till seemed beside that king I fought ; 
Seemed I rushed with Ossian o'er the field, 
And met the battle on my bossy shield ; 
Stood by the tuneful warrior's side, 
And wept with him when noble Oscar died. 
No matter what or how we sing, 
Or strike the lyre's sounding string. 
If short or long, we make the line 
When come in aid the tuneful Nine, 
If we some noble feelings bring- 
Within the tales we tell or sing — 
Something to move the joy or woe, 
Or yearnings that we mortals know. 
No matter if we limn the form 
Of the grim spirit of the storm, 
Place him on heights stupendous hurled, 
Midst clouds above a moving world, 
His meteor-banner there unfurled 
To storms and lightnings round him twirled 
Or place him on the ocean's wave, 
To give the bounding bark its grave. 
So that we fill the human soul 
With wonder, pity, joy or dole; 
Teach there's a path that should be trod 
By mortals that leads up to God, 
Where they shall view the final end — 
One Judge, one God, one Father, Friend ; 
Or if we limn the rainbow's form 
At eve, amidst the dying storm. 
And paint the hills with sunset glow, 
While floods his beams of glory show, 



DEDICATION. xill 

While skipping lambs and grazing sheep 

All peaceful throng the grassy steep, 

And shepherds watchful vigils keep; 

Or paint with ever}^ rural charm 

The pleasures on a Jersey farm, 

Where every joy of mortal life 

Around has Nature scattered rife ; 

Or lead the reader through a vale, 

Flowers all sides the eye assail, 

Into the fields of choicest fruits. 

To pluck whate'er his fancy suits, 

No matter what we tell or sing, 

So strictly we to Nature cling — 

Nature, man's uiortal, final goal. 

When God emancipates his soul ; 

Nature that unto dust shall bring 

His form and every mortal thing, 

And scatter on the tempest's pride 

His dust o'er all her regions wide; 

And Avho at last shall bow her head, 

And, hoary, slumber with the dead — 

That path be by her spirit trod 

That brings us face to face with God. 

Some mortals on this planet dwell 

Who doubt all things that poets tell, 

Believe no more that Arthur lived 

Than mountains through a screen were sieved 

Of meshes half an inch in size 

Ere they did from earth's surface rise, 

Though they were just as huge and vast 

As now when they those meshes past. 

They even doubt this spacious earth 

From the Almighty had its birth, 

Tliat it alone through Chance was born, 

And all the worlds that space adorn ; 



XIV DEDICATION. 

But who is Chance? Who did all this? 

Who formed all Space's vast abyss? 

How Chance did into being move 

And make all things they cannot prove, 

And when we all their theories view, 

And search and sift them through and through, 

We find their theories all unsound, 

And they the only liars found. 

That Arthur lived I well believe, 

It a historic truth receive, 

And see no more to doubt in him 

Than fish do in the waters swim. 

Or birds fly through the yielding air, 

Or earth blooms with its flowers fair, 

Or storms the waves of ocean roll 

With force no mortal can control ; 

Or that the hills my hands can lift, 

And them from off their bases shift. 

Or I the sun could drag to earth, 

And place him on my little hearth ; 

Or I could stop the Comet's car. 

And load it with the Polar Star. 

Yea, let the skeptics doubt the birth 

Of good King Arthur on this earth, 

Deny him all his fame and worth. 

And prowess of unmeasured girth ; 

We'll war 'gainst them both day and night, 

And we shall conquer in the fight. 

My son, the winds are wild and shrill, 

They drive the snow o'er glen and hill ; 

The night with all its clouds is stored, 

And not a planet is abroad ; 

Deep darkness fills all sky and space, 

And over all of Nature's face 

No object through the night we trace. 



DEDICATION. 

But let the night be as it will, 
And blasts scream over moor and hill 
Warm beside our blazing hearth, 
We'll listen to the tempest's mirth ; 
Be just as happy and as gay 
As winds that rough the forests sway. 
Come, let's broach the ruddy wine 
Drink healths unto the Sacred Nine, 
And to the Spirit of the Soil, 
Who ever doth reward man's toil. 
ITail to the Spirit of the Land, 
Who gives us food on every hand, 
Who fills the earth with germs of life, 
And crowns it all with fruitage rife ; 
Who makes the vine on hill and field 
Its purple, ample harvest yield, 
From which we press the luscious wine, 

Which fills the veins with glow divine 

Hail 1 hail to Ceres ever blest I 

May every bliss her heart invest 1 

The goddess of the wholesome corn, 

That doth with vigor man adorn, 

That gives him muscle, brain and bone, 

And spirit of a lofty tone ; 

Hail to the goddess, all divine, 

And to her daughter, Proserpine, 

Who crown the earth with corn and wine! 

Who make the vine yield well and live 

When man it proper care will give. 

My song unto its end has run, 

And now its dedication's done. 

Come, bring the wine ; 'tis Christmas Eve, 

Mai;ls round the altars flowers weave ; 

To-morrow brings the hapi:)y morn 

The Saviour of this World was born. 



XV 



XVI 




A Jersey Farm. 



ARTELOISE. 



PART T. 



I. 

A story of our fathers 

In the misty da3^s of old, 
Their deeds of daring and their tourneys, 

Their battles fierce and bold; 
Their high feasts and merr}' meetings, 

Their love, their hate, their joys and woes, 
And of their dread necromancers 

This ancient story shall disclose. 
And how in Etna's fiery caves, 

Within the mighty Cyclops' den, 
Were forged on thundering anvils. 

Immortal arms for godlike men. 
The shield no earthly spear could pierce, 

The breakless, adamantine helm. 
The sword and axe, that aye in fight 

Would every enemy o'erwhelm. 
The morion before whose sheen 

The hardiest foemen quail, 
By the light it threw, full well they knew 

Immortal Vulcan forged the mail. 
And how in rocky caves of hills. 

Guarded safe by dragons bold. 
Lie enormous hoarded treasures 

Of glittering gems and gold. 
And how a knight of fearless prowess, 

With soul untouched by mortal sin, 



ARTELOISE 

As prophesied by Merlin's breath, 
Did the countless treasure win. 

Of gallant knights and ladies fair, 

Whom grisly giants sought to wrong; 

Of courts of kings and castles strange, 
I yet shall tell you in this song. 



II. 



A king in ancient Britain reigned, 

For high valor far renowned; 
Before him no greater hero lived, 

And since no greater can be found. 
He ruled o'er all merry England, 

Fair Scotland, Ireland, and "Wales, 
And manj^ Islands of the deep 

The far distant sea assails. 
In peace and war was he renowned, 

And good King Arthur was his name; 
O'er Christendom where mortal lived 

Was spead wide his deathless fame. 
And many knights and chiefs had he, 

Of mighty prowess and of worth, 
Whose gallant deeds of hardihood 

Ever shall be sung on earth; 
Their many battles, fierce and bold, 

With proud princes and with kings; 
With monsters, dreadful to behold, 

Dragons and infernal things, 
Shall down the corridors of time. 

Come on poet's deathless song. 
And how they, aye, upbuoyed the right. 

And bore ever down the wrong. 



ARTELOISE. 



How day and night in armour bright, 
They ever sought for perils new; 

To crush the cruel, faithless, vile — 
Aid the noble, good, and true. 



III. 



There was Lancelot de Lake, 

With glittering sword and shield, 
Who, aye, ready was for lady's sake 

His conquering blade to wield. 
And Sir Tristeam, the bold and strong, 

The proud, fear-defying chief, 
Who ever warr'd 'gainst others' wrong, 

Soothed and lessened others' grief. 
There was Gawaine, Kings Bore and Ban 

All desperate men in fraj ; 
And Bedivere, who, in the A'an 

Of glory, shone both night and day. 
And there was Percivale, the famed, 

With the helmet crushing mace; 
And gallant Lionell, who claimed. 

In field and foray, foremost place. 
There was Galahad, the divine, 

Loved of angels and the Lord; 
Who hung upon religions' shrine, 

All the trophies of his sword. 
There was Aglovale, of giant limb, 

There was Tor, and Pelinore; 
All knights in peril, bold and grim, 

And full a thousand heroes more 
Who made renowned the Table Round; 

For knights of prowess and of worth — 



ARTELOISE. 

Whose fame through fleeting times hall go 

'Till deeds heroic fade from earth. 
True knights wlio by King Arthur's side, 

Full, twelve times, in bloody fray, 
Crushed down the Roman ranks of pride; 

And overwhelmed them with dismay. 
Save King Arthur, of all that Train, 

For deeds of hardihood and worth 
Was none like valiant Beau de Main 

'Mongst all the heroes of the earth. 
True kniglit was he to friend or foe. 

In time of peace and battle grim; 
A heart more true in weal or woe. 

Ne'er sent blood through human limb. 
He was the knight of prowess bold, 

And of sin untainted soul; 
Whom the voice of Merlin had foretold, 

Should the power alone control 
That should slay the dragon fierce and grim, 

Within a cavern dark and drear; 
And monsters of gigantic limb 

That guarded hoarded treasures there. 
And bring the hoard from out that den, 

With spirit void of mortal fears — 
Though it had hidden been from men, 

Twice one thousand fleeting 3'ears. 

IV. 

A royal feast at Camelot, 

Had the noble Arthur spread, 
Nor was there a single knight forgot 

Who did glory's pathway tread; 



ABTELOISE. 

All knights renowned of the Table Round, 
And kings were gathered there, I ween 
There many a comely knight was found 

And many a courteous queen ; 
The morning fair midst tourney sports, 

Had most blithely past away, 
The din throughout King Arthur's courts 

Had sprightly rung of mimic fray; 
The groiaid where it had been all strown, 

With wreck'd and splintered spears was seen, 
And plumes of every color known 

With these were spread o'er all the green. 
Had storms of lightning and of hail, 

Fiercely over woodlands past, 
And countless branches strown the gale, 

And broken on the earth had cast; 
And there unnumbered flowers brought 

Of all shape and size and hue, 
And strewing them 'midst limbs had sought 

To hide the grassy earth from view; 
It had resembled much the ground 

Where had past that mimic fray. 
Where shivered spears were cast around, 

And torn plumes unnumbered lay; 
And that grand morning's tourney prize 

The gallant Beau de Main had won, 
He 'neath King Arthur's judging eyes 

The knightliest deeds had done; 
And never breathed a man on earth 

More fitter than that gallant king, 
To judge a hero's knightly worth, 

And deed of skill in tourney ring. 



ABTELOISK 

A mighty helm of flashing steel, 

With purest ruddy gold inlaid, 
That o'er it saving plumes reveal 

That day as prize the Monarch made. 
And on the head of Beau de Main 

Was placed that helm by Arthur's hand, 
While joyous shouts from all his Train 

Reechoed loud across the land; 
The fairest of the maidens there 

Forth stepped from out the female crowd. 
With wreath as fair as queen could wear, 

On knee to her the hero bowed; 
Firm on his head the wreath was placed, 

Where waved the towering plumes above; 
Tlien spoke the maid, A wreath ne'er graced 

Chief fitter maiden's faith, and love; 
And I have crowned thee here, Sir Knight 

Champion of the Chaste and fair, 
May virtue be thy guiding light, 

And woman's houor be thy care. 

V. 

All knights renowned of the Table Round 

Have thronged unto the festive board. 
Ceased is the clanging armor's sound, 

And ringing clash of spear and sword, 
With sparkling wave the cups are crowned, 

For in them ruddy wine is poured; 
And not a care-worn face is found 

From humblest knight to proudest lord. 
All is merry feasting, joy and mirth, 

In every stir and sight and sound, 
Nor happier scenes has witnessed earth 

Since ever hero kings were crowned, 



ARTELOISE. 

By knights where e'er the eye may go, 

Are all beauteous maidens seen, 
Tlie best the whole wide world can show- 
In comeliness of face and mien. 
Each gallant baron, king and knight, 

Has his fair partner b}' his side, 
For whose fair name and honor bright 

He unto deed of death would ride. 
The fair Guenever ever blest 

"With sweetest charms in beauty stored, 
Sits with heart at ease and soul at rest, 

Beside her loved and loving lord; 
But those who'd know each beauteous guest 

That sat around that spacious board, 
Let them through Arthur's annals quest, 

The tales will well their time reward I 
Of her who sat b}^ Beau de Main 
It will be my duty here to tell: 
Of all the maids 'neath Arthur's reign 

She did in comeliness excell. 
Her eyes were like the living light 

Of meteors born of blue, 
And from each orb, so starry bright, 

A generous soul looked through 
Her face like garden of the East 

When summer blooms in all her prime, 
Roses red and white the showers feast, 

Do all commingling bloom sublime. 
A nobler head and fairer brow 

"Was never seen with mortal maid, 
Nor through all the ages until now 

Were such wavy, golden locks surve3'ed; 
As opening rose her mouth was sweet, 
Never yet did rubier lip 



ABTELOISE. 

The searching eye of nature greet, 

Nor from a mortal goblet sip. 
White as the foam the billows show, 

Heaved 'neath gauz}^ silk her bosom fair. 
As golden sunshine cast on snow 

O'er neck and shoulders stream'd her hair; 
Her white round arms were like the down 

That waves upon the autumn field, 
That with snow}^ loveliness doth crown 

The dark brown hulls that did it yield. 
A form more perfect and more fair, 

By nature crowned with nobler grace, 
Ne'er trod the earth, nor breathed its air, 

Nor did those of mortal mold embrace. 
A foot more light, j^et firm than hers. 

Upon this world has never trod; 
Not lighter summer's zephyr stirs 

That bows no grass along the sod, 
Her tread was like the fleecy snow 

That touches on the river's face. 
But ruffles not its tranquil flow, 

Nor leaves behind the slightest tra,ce; 
Her voice was soft as wind that sighs 

At summer through the sultr^^ vale, 
Sweet as perfumes that on it rise — 

From violets, rose and lilies pale I 



VI. 



No wonder that the maid was fair, 
And famed for beauty o'er the earth, 

For from a bright immortal pair 

'Twas said that maiden drew her birth. 



ARTELOISK. 

A pair of angels, so the story runs, 

Left their lieavenlj' liomes of yore, 
To journey space and view the suns, 

And countless planets to explore; 
From world to world, from star to slar, 

The adventurous angels flew. 
And where the comets blazed afar 

All grand, but terrible to view; 
And while amidst the realms of space, 

Where worlds on worlds unnumbered glow'd 
And over all creation's face 

Their blazing lights eternal flowed. 
Amidst the boundless realms afar, 

A world they saw in glowing azure drest 
Tiiat seem'd to them a gleaming star. 

More beautiful than all the rest; 
And down they shot on lightning Aving8 

Beyond the utmost speed of thought, 
Past planets form'd in glowing rings, 

All with immortal beaut}^ fraught; 
And lighted here upon this sphere. 

The lovely home of moital man; 
Enraptured stare the angel pair. 

No world thej^'d seen of grander plan; 
And here on earth their home they made, 

Though all unseen of mortal men, 
Save at noons when forests spread their shade, 

And sunshine warm'd the hill and glen. 
All those wlio saw the lovely pair. 

Of them did wonderous marvels tell, 
One was a maiden heavenly fair, 

Her waving, golden tresses fell 



10 ARTELOISE. 

O'er shoulders fair as froth on seas, 

Face with all charms in rainbows seen; 
Her airy step was like the breeze 

That stirs not e'en the aspen green. 
The other was a comely youth, 

Of godlike, all commanding mien, 
Whose visage seem'd the shrine of truth, 

With every virtue glittering sheen; 
The Genii he was styled b}^ men 

Of all the mountains and the hills, 
And she the Nymph of sunny glen, 

And all the fountains and the rills; 
One sole offspring, but of form divine, 

Sprung from the union of this pair, 
In her did all their viitues shine, 

And all beauties of her mother fair: 
They kept her in their secret glen 

Throughout many an age of time. 
And taught her all that mortals ken, 

And all of angel lore sublime; 
Then sent her forth as mortal maid, 

To charm and gladden human kind; 
In ever}^ glorious cause to aid, 

And lead the race on paths refined. 
Clotilda was this maiden named, 

In Orkney she'd been born and bred. 
And much through her those isles were famed. 

Back in the misty ages fled. 
The glories of King Arthur's court. 

Had reached her in her secret glen, 
And unto Camelot did she resort 

To see this first of moi'tal men. 



ARTELOISE. 1 ] 

In quest of gallant knight came she, 

Who could achieve achentures bold, 
And for her pining captives free, 

Grim giants kept in rocky hold. 
But none like Beau de Main she found 

In perilous deeds and knightly worth; 
All knights renowned of the Table Round 

He far out shone, and all on earth; 
So he she singled for perils grim, 

And dread, awe inspiring deed; 
What recked he loss of life and limb, 

Her faith and love his glorious meed; 
If was death his lot, he lost her not, 

His spirit would move at her side, 
If he lived, then at high Camelot 

Her King Arthur would give as bride. 

VII. 

Done is the feast, the mirth has ceased, 

In King Arthur's glittering halls; 
Where spear and sword and targes broad 

Hang vast along the mighty walls. 
Where axes bright and mace of might 

The gazing coward's soul appalls; 
And high o'er head the banner red, 

O'er helms and gleaming armor falls, 
In awful rows they there repose, 

For not a sound to battle calls. 
But loud the la}^ of love and fray 

The skillful bards of Arthur sing; 
Deep, full and strong, flows forth the song. 

While chords of harps responding ring. 



12 ARTELOISE. 

Of gallant knight and lacl}^ bright, 

Of loves and hates and wars of old, 
Of daring king in tourney ring, 

Waving plume and helm ot gold; 
Of h^^lras dread with dragon's head, 

By arm of mortal heroes slain; 
Of slighted oath and broken troth, 

And dying friendship's throes and pain; 
Hunts o'er brake, and moor for stag and boar, 

And glories of the chase they sing, 
And varied swell and songs as well 

From bards and harps alternate ring. 

Viii. 

The festive day is waning fast, 

Yet shines the sun in Arthur's halls, 
Though eastward of those towers vast 

Apace a lengthening shadow falls; 
Yet, 'ere he goes his beams are cast 

In living splendor on those walls, 
On shield and lance the sunbeams glance, 

And all like waving flame they blaze; 
On greaves of steel the sunbeams reel, 

And flash around their blinding rays. 
On shield and lance the sunbeams glance, 

On Morion,sword and helmet sheen, 
On armor bright those beams alight. 

And all resplendent glows the scene; 
So long they glar'd on polished steel. 

And so intense the sheen became, 
It seems those halls within reveal 

One waving flood of dazzling flame; 



ARTELOISE. 13 

Then at the sight as if inspired 

With brightness that around them fell, 
Each bard and minstrel's soul seems tired 

With something more than mortal spell. 
And loud and louder still their song, 

And strains of music roar and ring, 
'Till like a storm it sweeps along 

Through all the castles of the king; 
And swiftly turns where splendor burns 

The eyes of every chief and knight, 
Soul and mind all thought and feeling spurns, 

Save steel gleaming to the sunbeams bright. 

IX. 

While gleam'd the shine of the da3''s decline, 

In princely Arthur's royal halls, 
And stirring chime of minstrel's rhyme 

Reechoed loud Avithin the walls; 
Strode in the hall an aged man, 

With locks as white as Denmark's snow. 
Who bowed to the king and then began 

To speak in accents soft and low; 
King Arthur, o'er man}^ a mile 

Of earth ray weary feet have trod, 
O'er mountain high and deep defile, 

O'er deserts drear and vernal sod. 
To many a kingly court I've been, 

And noble kings were they, I trow, 
But never place like this I've seen. 

Through all my journeys until now. 
The knights renown'd of the Table Round 

Are known throughout the spacious earth, 



14 ARTELOISE. 

Their praise doth sound where men are found 

Who honor give to fame and worth; 
And hither here IVe sped to see 

If any hero I can find, 
Whose soul's of every baseness free, 

And has an unpolluted mind, 
For such alone can draw this sword, 

From out its diamond studded sheath, 
And he who doth, shall be its lord, 

Nor any peril fear jon sky beneath; 
With that he placed in Arthur's hand 

A long, massive glittering sword, 
Than Excalibur, far more grand. 

More terrible and long and broad. 



X. 



Long, long essayed the gallant king, 

To draw from out its sheath that magic blade, 
But it from sheath he could not bring, 

Though he with all his might essayed; 
Tlien all disma3'ed liis chiefs surveyed 

The ponderous, glittering brand 
Tliey knew 'twas "vain for them to try 

When failed had Arthur's stalwart hand. 
They all essayed to draw that blade 

They all essayed but Beau de Main, 
In his hand was laid the starry blade 

Nor was that hero's effort vain; 
Forth at his touch the weapon came, 

Loud rattling from its starry sheath, 
The glittering falchion flashed like flame 

From burning cloud on midnight heath; 



ARTELOISE. 1 5 

Then high up on the Table Round 

He the glittering falchion threw. 
There it fell, with thundering sound, 

While gems of lightning from it flew, 
Abashed with surprise the heroes all 

The wonderous deed behold, 
And louder through King Arthur's hall 

The swelling strains of music rolled. 

XI. 

Come, come with me, the old man spake, 

And thou shalt rise to honors new; 
Thou shalt j'okes of banded tyrants break, 

And gloiy's brightest path pursue. 
Thou art the lord of magic sword, 

And thou with it shall prowess do; 
On battle field, 'twill cleave each shield, 

And smite all mortal armor through. 
Eeneath its sheen and edges keen, 

Those who never fled before shall fly; 
And monsters grim in form and limb 

That vex and curse the world shall die 
So mount thy steed and with me speed 

For ere yon sun our sight shall leave. 
Thou shalt range through a castle strange, 

And deeds of prowess high achieve. 

XII. 

Forth on their steeds the twain have gone, 

From King Arthur's ancient halls, 
Where j^et the glowing sunbeams shone, 

On glittering sceel clad walls. 
O'er moor and brake, by sti-eam and laka. 

The wild boar's reedy feu, 



16 ARTELOISE. 

By hill and crag where roams the stag, 

And wilds scai'ce known to men; 
Ride on those twain, until they gain 

A A^alley lone and drear, 
Abrupt and grand on either hand, 

The towering hills appear; 
Each steep incline with fir and pine, 

And oak and gum is crownetl, 
And o'er them twine huge folds of vine, 

That trail along the ground, 
Though here and there the hills are bare, 

No trees bedeck their side, 
Yet there green moss with glowing gloss 

Waves in its vernal pride. 
O'er boulders steep huge torrents leap 

Into the A'ale below, 
O'er boulders brown those floods rush dov.n, 

With foam as white as snoAV. 
In roaring mass they onward pass, 

To a river deep and broad. 
Those waters strong flow fierce along, 

Too wild for steed to ford. 
And midst its flow huge boulders show 

At times their naked heads, 
Some red as blood, some white as flood. 

When froth its surface spreads. 
And some are dark as is the bark 

When charred b}'^ scorching flame, 
Some somber brown that sternly frown. 

O'er floods they can not tame; 
That by them toil in fierce turmoil. 

And o'er them dash their spray, 



ARTELOISE. 17 

As if their pride all rocks defied, 

That dared to bar their way, 
And long that vale the lilies pale 

Waved o'er those waters wide; 
And roses set hy violet 

Bedeck tlie riA'er's side; 
And grasses green as ever seen 

Wave o'er tlie teeming soil; 
And incommode the narrow road 

'Long wliich those horsemen toil, 
And 3'ears have past, a number vast, 

Since there has horseman trod; 
All men feared well that haunted dell, 

And shunu'd its fatal sod, 
In rhymes of old strange tales are told 

About that valle}' drear, 
Of monsters dread that there are bred, 

And fiends for men to fear; 
Of dragons grim in form and limb, 

That fly on wings of flame; 
All O'er wliose hide sti'ange scales abide, 

Hard as 3-et sword became; 
And ne'er could feel the edge of steel, 

All o'er its horrid frame; 
And vain tlie force of man an<l horse 

Its grisly rage to tame. 
Ne'er mortal trod tliat fatal sod 

By either night nor da}-, 
But to its jaw and Iiorrid maw 

They instant found their way. 

xiir. 

But little reck'd our hero bold 
For idle tales that minstrels told 



X8 ARTELOISB. 

'Bout either glen or hill or wold, 
Of caverns dread or giants bold, 
His spirit knew no more of fear 
Than rock 'round Avhich the surges tear; 
His soul was set on perils grim, 
And these alone delighted him; 
With hand on rein and rowels red, 
He followed where that old man led, 
Little he knew and less he cared, 
"What perils should that day be dared; 
His arm was strong, his sword was keen, 
He longed to dye its glowing sheen 
With blood of paynim tyrants grim, 
Or giants of stupendous limb; 
Such as by bards were said to dwell 
Within that valley lone and fell. 

XIV, 

Onward he goes, at length he sees 
Amidst a grove of giant trees, 
Whose mighty limbs though spreading wide 
"With flame are darken'd, scorched and dried. 
And 'midst them at the mountain's base, 
A horrid cavern he could trace. 
Where grisly dragons flame disgorge 
Dread as yet stream 'd from blazing forge; 
There noxious flames terrific float, 
Grim, pestilence and death denote; 
Sulphurous fumes midst fiame and smoke, 
And chlorine, lungs and nostrils choke, 
Yet in that cave of stifling breath. 
Was silence dread as that of death; 
Though from it floAved a mighty flood, 
, Of reekihg- liquid red as blood. 



ARTELOISE. 19 

XV. 

Then spoke the man of hoary head: 
Through yonder cavern we must tread, 
But thou the dangerous way must lead, 
So ready make for daring deed: 
Thy sword unsheath, onward spur thy steed 
And I'll thy thirst for glory feed. 
Roused at the voice, from out the cave 
A fearful leap the dragon gave, 
Forward it roaring comes amain, 
Like mountain torrent swelled with rain; 
Black broods the air above its head, 
And serpents spring benejith its tread; 
Its horrid jaws are opened wide, 
Nor belching flames its fangs could hide; 
Those were in awful rows revealed, 
Though half in reeking gore concealed, 
Which from its jaws dropped down like rain; 
And from its neck a shaggy mane, 
Black as was ever darkness found, 
Hung down and trailed along the ground. 
Broad was its head and vast its length, 
And all stupendous seemed its strength; 
And over all its sable hide 
Were folds on folds of horn}- pride, 
That sharpest steel of man defied 
To pierce, or harm to it betide; 
Two might}^ wings it shook in air, 
Stirred it as though a storm were there. 
To gaze upon its might}' size, 
Its lion's head and horrid eyes, 
It seemed all vain for man to hope 
In fray 'gainst such a beast to cope; 



20 ARTELOISE. 

Too vast its force, too huge its length, 
For mortal's steel or hero's strength. 

XVI. 

But thought not thus the gallant knight, 
He longed to meet that beast in fight; 
He eyed it with a stern delight, 
But ere he drew his falchion bright 
To heaA-^en a secret prayer he made, 
Invoked his Lord Jehovah's aid; 
Prayed as all knights and heroes true 
Are wont, when glory the}' pursue. 
Great God of every sea and clime. 
Who sits 'midst seraph hosts sublime, 
Thine the earth and sun and starry zone, 
That journey round Thy endless throne, 
Thine is the fount of life and light, 
As well as death's all whelming might; 
Thou gracious Judge of right and wrong, 
Who can make the hero weak or strong. 
Thy gracious ear to me incline, 
And hear m^^ thoughts for the3'- are Thine- 
Almight}'^ and eternal Lord, 
This day, with vietor}'^, crown my sword I 
Strengthen my arm, make good m^' breath. 
That I may stretch yon beast in death; 
Let earth drink up its vital gore. 
So it may curse mankind no more, 
Let it beneath Thy servant fall, 
So may it be. Thou Lord of all 1 

XVII. 

Then swift, soon as the prayer he breathed, 
He his glittering sword unsheathed, 



ARTELOISE. 21 

And springing from liis gallant horse 

On foot he tries the dragon's force. 

High o'er liis Iiead on ponderous wings 

In air the horrid monster springs; 

And as it strove with grisly claw 

The gallant knight from earth to draw, 

With one fell blow his sword he brings 

On one of its tremendous wings, 

Clean severed from its trunk it flew, 

And prone on earth the monster threw. 

From mouth that stream'd forth gore and flame 

A dread, infernal roaring came; 

On earth the wing descending fell, 

With shock that shook the lonely dell, 

While gore gushed from the monster's side, 

And shooting far the forests dj-ed 

W^liere o'er the trees on every limb 

Hung hissing folds of serpents grim. 

XVIII. 

Again the beast his head uprears, 
For victor}^ or death prepares; 
Dread as the thunder cloud he came, 
His throat a roaring fount of flame, 
Swift as the lightning bolt it sped 
A claw above the hero's head; 
Another swoop of his trusty blade. 
And on the earth that claw is laid; 
Swift down it falls 'midst streaming gore, 
To injure mortal man no more. 
Then fiercer wax'd the monster's ire. 
And dreader gushed the founts of fire; 
Before those flames of sulphur dire 
From conflict did the knioht retire. 



22 ARTELOISE. 

But thiough the path he sped, anon 
The roaring terror thundered on, 
Forward it sped where e'er he carae, 
O'er him casting forky, waving flame; 
Yet sped the knight where purer air 
Did soon his wasted strength repair; 
Then higli he reared his seven-fold shield, 
Which shelter from the flame did yield; 
And while on this he caught the flame, 
Full on the roaring beast he came, 
Between its eyes his reeking sword 
Made horrid passage deep and broad; 
Prone on the earth the terror came. 
And ceased the roaring fount of flame. 
Though fast and dread its serpent tail 
Moved round the hero like a flail ! 

XIX. 

Backward a space the hero drew, 
Where he could well the monster view, 
Then back he sped with vigor rife. 
To end the grisly Terror's life; 
One full sweep with his trusty blade, 
And the snaky tail on earth is laid; 
Three times his sword he drives in gore, 
And with a hoarse and horrid roar, 
Sliaking the earth on which it lies, 
The roaring Terror writhing dies. 
While rivers huge of reeking gore 
Adown the winding valley pour. 
The horrid serpents vast and grim, 
That hang from every tree and limb, 
All palsied drop with stiffened fang. 
And breathe on earth their dying pang. 



ARTELOISE. 23 

Soon as the grisly Terror dies, 
And lifeless all it smoking lies, 
From gore the hero wipes his sword, 
Gives thanks to Heaven's eternal Lord. 

XX. 

Up through that cavern dark and drear, 
Where that grim Terror made its lair, 
Upon their strong and mettled steeds, 
That hero with liis guide proceeds; 
Through subterranean passage drear, 
They go and mock at night and fear. 
The way was rough and dark and dread 
For either steed or man to tread; 
Yet safely on their way the}' made 
Till daylight on the darkness pla3'ed; 
And here a gate did they survey, 
That blocked the passage of that way, 
Huge bars of steel and beams of brass, 
A gate, a strong and ponderous mass. 
That gleamed all o'er like molten glass, 
Completely blocked that gloomy pass. 
Down from his steed the hero springs, 
And 'gainst the gate his force he flings, 
But vain 'gainst it his strength he brings. 
It neither stirs nor shakes nor rings; 
Solid as rock or mountain's side, 
It stood and all his force defied; 
Nor least bewildered and amazed, 
Upon that gate the hero gazed; 
But strove and strove with all his force. 
To move that gate and clear his course. 



24 ARTELOISE. 



XXI. 



Then spake the man "with hoaiy head: 
The path we came again no man shall tread. 
Behold, it all is closed with rock, 
That ne'er shall move to earthquake 's shock , 
To flame, nor storm, nor hand of time, 
Till nature's death-knell God shall chime. 
Before us life and glorj^ glow. 
Behind are only death and woe. 
To linger midst this stifling breath 
Would shortly bring us ghastly death; 
So then, most valiant knight and good, 
Well proved in deeds of hardihood, 
Once more 'gainst it thy valor try, 
And clear the way or here we die; 
Perhaps in this thy gleaming sword 
May unto thee some aid aflPord." 

XXII. 

Behind the hero cast his e^-e, 
And nought but rock could he descry; 
The path that they had journeyed through 
No longer met his searching view; 
But rocks as hard as e'er were drilled 
In solid mass that jDassage filled. 
Nor left the faintest trace behind, 
Where'd been that pass for him to find. 
A moment, and but a moment's space, 
He gazed on the enchanted place, 
Then from his sheath his blade he drew. 
While sparks of lightning from it flew, 
Which far and wide spread flashing round, 
And filled the place with light and sound. 



ARTELOISE. 25 

Then swift on that barrier grim 

It sped with all his force of limb, 

The ponderous gate terrific rings, 

And from its place like lightning springs, 

And instant fades from mortal sight. 

Like on the cloud the flash of light. 

Then spoke a voice, a voice sublime, 

That seemed to sound all o'er that clime: 

Dreadful hour and fatal day, 

All our power has past away; 

All, all our spells and magic grand, 

Are wrecked for a^-e by mortal hand. 

Past away, as foretold of yore, 

By Merlin's voice and Merlin's lore; 

Dreadful day and fatal hour, 

That ends on earth the wizard's power. 

XXIII. 

Ceased the voice, but ere died its sound 
Like rolling waves the earth stirred round, 
'Till rocks from out their places rose. 
And writhed with all terrific throes; 
The lofty hills were rent in twain 
A moment's space, then joined again. 
While over all a sable cloud 
Closed grim and dread with thunders loud, 
Though not a lightning flash nor flame 
From out that shroud of thunder came; 
Dread and more dread the thunder rolled, 
And darker grew that awful fold. 
Beneath those peals of thunder loud 
To earth their heads the forests bowed, 
As if there a roaring whirlwind trod, 
Or dreader still, an angry God ! 



26 ABTELOISE. 

XXIV. 

The thunder ceased and shrieks aghast, 

Loud as the roar of mountain blast, 

Burst from tliat cloud's terrific fold, 

Then all at once from sight it rolled; 

Where it had been nought else was seen 

But azure sky and mountains green, 

A flowery dell with loft}^ trees, 

That waved their leaves 'midst balmy breeze; 

Along which that old man hoar and strange 

With Beau de Main begins to range. 

Far up that dell those travellers wound, 

O'er barren rock and grassy ground; 

At length a lofty hill they spy. 

Piled up against the western sky, 

Where many a tower confronts the eye, 

With wall and gate and bulwark high; 

All formed of vast stupendous blocks, 

And seem'd a pyramid of rocks, 

Of dark and green and red and gray; 

By Titans piled in vast arraj'. 

To rear their battlements and towers, 

When warr'd they 'gainst the heavenly powers. 

High on the hills they stood sublime, 

Seemed out of reach of storm or time, 

As there they gleamed in grand arra}-. 

Beneath tne beams of closing day I 

But to them, of path, no utter trace 

Was seen upon that mountain's face, 

Of road where e'er the eye pursue 

On right or left was caught no clue; 

Like some rock-guarded eagle's nest, 

High hung upon the movmtain's crest, 



ARTELOISB. 21 

Beyond the reach of hunter's hand, 
Those towers amidst the sunshine stand ! 

XXV. 

O'er his eyes his hand the hero raised, 
To shield them from the beam that blazed, 
And at their splendor all amazed 
Steadfastly on those bulwarks gazed, 
For stronger, loftier tower 
He'd ne'er seen before that hour; 
It looked all like some mighty hold 
Reared by the Cyclops Kings of old, 
Yet all within and all around 
Seem'd wrapt in silence so profound, 
So void of life and stir and sound — 
Those hills seem'd with a phantom crown 'd. 
But while he gaied the old man spake: 
Come, thy way to jonder bulwark take 1 
No road I see, the knight replied, 
O'er all yon mountain's lofty side. 
Its whole broad surface I can view, 
And road on it I see no clue; 
And vain for me or 3'ou to try 
The sealing of tiiat mountain high; 
Those rocks are all too smooth and steep 
For man up them to climb or creep. 

XXVI. 

There is a road, tlie other spake, 
Thyself for it now ready make, 
Within thy hand thy falchion take, 
Lift shield, and keep thine eye awake, 
For I may lead on peril's path. 
And thou must nobly brave their wrath; 



28 ARTELOISB. 

And never glory yet was won 

By any knight beneath yon sun, 

Who did not bravely troubles meet, 

And all unflinching dangers greet; 

And put all perils to defeat, 

Be they of body or of soul, 

And onward press to glory's goal I 

While thus he speaks they swiftly I'ide 

Far down along the mountain's side, 

To where the base with trees was crowned, 

And then 'midst tangled bush they found 

There opened a passage broad and wide, 

Right through the hollow mountain's side; 

In rode the twain, and soon anon 

SaAv a broad, steep way leading on, 

To where those lofty towers rose, 

In dream-like silence and dread repose. 

xxvii. 

They reached the bulwark's lofty wall, 
Pass'd through an archway broad and tall, 
Where stood a gate wide open cast, 
Wrought out of bars of iron vast. 
Braced with bands of ponderous brass, 
And those of steel in mighty- mass. 
Scarce by the gate those twain were past 
Than 'cross the archway it was cast, 
Closed with a fierce and sudden sound, 
That echoed all those bulwarks round; 
And loud and plain was heard the jar 
Of placing lock and bolt and bar. 
The knight turn'd round with searching eye, 
But not a thing could he descry 



ARTELOISE. 29 

In likeness of the human race 
About that archway's ample space; 
The deed was done by hand unseen, 
Perhaps not one of mortal mien. 

XXVIII. 

Then onward swift those horsemen ride 

Into a court-yard long and wide, 

Yet all the place of life seems free, 

For not a beast nor man they see; 

No sound of human voice they hear, 

Nor any stir breaks on tlieir ear, 

Save their coursers' tread on stony ground, 

They meet no other stir nor sound; 

And these re-eclio strange and drear 

Through all those loft}' bulwarks there. 

Was it some dread, enchanted j^lace 

Unknown to those of mortal race. 

Where never mortal trod before, 

And whence he shall dejDart no more, 

'Till time the judgment morn shall bring? 

Or was it the tomb of some great king, 

Who reign'd amidst the ages past. 

Long since neath oblivion cast ? 

Who, though he rear'd a tomb as grand 

As ever yet by monarch plann'd, 

His fame and name he could not save 

However cruel, good, or brave. 

From wasting time and fleeting years. 

That crumble all that mortal rears, 

And all that nature can control ? 

While thus i-evolved the hero's soul, 

From westward, from whence beam'd the sun 



30 ARTELOISE. 

His setting rays o'er mountains dun, 
He heard a deafening trumpet clang, 
Tliat echoing througli those bulwarks rang; 
Hills shook beneath that trumpet's blast, 
As if through them an earthquake past, 
And right between him and the light 
The sunbeams cast upon that height. 
A steel-clad champion he espied 
Upon a coal-black charger ride, 
With visor down and spear in rest, 
Right onward unto him he press 'd; 
"With clang of arms and courser's tread 
The air was filled with tumult dread; 
As if with riving thunders torn, 
Not swifter 3 et a cloud was borne 
Upon the pinions of the storm 
Than sped that horse and steel-clad form; 
And like a cloud that meets the sight, 
Whose centre all is black as night, 
Though round its edges lightnings play. 
Gild it with terrible arra}*, 
For man and horse from head to heel 
Are sheathed in plates of sable steel; 
But gleaming helm and spear and sword, 
And axe terrific, keen and broad, 
That armed that rider cast a light 
Like that round thunder-cloud at night. 

XXIX. 

Another glorious trumpet clang 
Throughout those lofty ramparts rang; 
And straight a line of glittering spears 
Behind that rider grim appears; 



ARTELOISE. 31 

Far down the hill they swift arise 
Like flashing clouds that mount the skies, 
And glowing helm and sword' and shield 
Are 'midst the rising ranks revealed; 
And o'er the coming wave of steel 
To and fro, golden banners reel. 
Onward it came in swift career, 
While dust made dark the stagnant air. 
All that wide space grew dark and dun, 
To silence sped the glowing sun. 
As when the simoom fierce and red 
Roars o'er the desert's sandy bed: 
Yet nearer fast that wave of steel 
Comes on with deafening trumpet peal, 
That shakes the air with tumult dread, 
While nearer sounds the measured tread 
Of armed men, whose clanging sound 
The stormy trumpet notes have drowned: 
And nearer 'midst the dark'ning gloom 
Is seen the coming helm and plume; 
With broken gleams of ruddy light 
Rise long array's of lances bright; 
The long arraj-s of shield and sword, 
Of daggers keen and axes broad. 

XXX. 

Then from those lofty ramparts rost> 
Storms of unutterable woes, 
Sighs, lamentations and loud moans, 
Horrible outcries and hoarse groans; 
All languages — tongues of every clime 
Mix'd in that storm of anguish chime; 
With hands together smote amain, 



32 ARTELOISE. 

And feet that stamp with throes of pain, 

Made up a tumult dread and fell 

As ever roused the king of hellj 

Made up a tumult grim and drear, 

That whirled through all that darken'd air. 

Like burning sand the simoom lifts, 

And on that roaring whirlwind drifts. 

With ear intent and eye awi.ke, 

As stands the lion in the brake, 

With soul as void of mortal fear, 

As oaks round which the tempests tear 

All things strange, Beau de Main watched there 

That met his eye or pierced his ear. 

XXXI. 

My gallant knight, thus spoke his guide, 

Fear not the least 3'on ranks of pride, 

Though they hem thee in on ever}'^ side, 

Thou shalt as victor o'er them ride. 

Go, cleave each gleaming helm and shield. 

Yon host through thee to death shall yield; 

First take this spear and spur thy steed, 

'Gainst him who doth yon squadron lead; 

Yon sable knight who comes so fierce, 

Him through the breast and breast-plate pierce, 

He said, then unto Beau de Main 

A spear he gave of twisted grain. 

All like a stately mast in length, 

And like the mountain oak for strength, 

Armed at the end with steel as strong 

As e'er was forged, wrought sharp and long, 

This swift the hero placed in rest, 

Waiting for him who onward pressed. 



ARTELOISE. 3J 

As there he stood a sudden flume 
Swift bursting from that darkness came, 
High o'er the hemisphere it sailed, 
And through the darkened air prevailed. 

XXXII. 

As some dark cloud of giant form, 

That rides upon the roaring storm, 

That shakes the world beneath its path. 

Whose thunders mutter forth its wratn; 

Wliose lightnings fiercely round it plaj-. 

And guides it on its rapid wa}^, 

That meeting bursts with deafening shock, 

Upon the side of some firm rock; 

Then downward falls in sudden flight, 

Before that rock and fades from sight: 

So met that hero Beau de Main, 

So sudden rolled upon the plain; 

Through breast-plate and through breast that spc^ar 

Had torn a passage grim and drear, 

With horrid din his armor rung, 

As horse and man to earth were flung; 

O'er broken steel his crimson blood 

Fast steam 'd to earth in ample flood; 

By fallen steed he writhed with pain, 

And never to arise again. 

As to earth that champion came, 

Died in the air that flash of flame; 

Swift from the hemisphere it sailed, 

And darkness grim again prevailed 

XXXIII. 

Then favored by the solid gloom, 
That gathered as the dread simoom, 



34 ARTELOISE. 

Like whirlwind on that armed band 
Rode Arthur's knight with flaming brand; 
As tlirough a grove of saplings strong 
The horrid cyclone sweeps along, 
Uproots and tears them from the ground , 
And strews them all in ruin round; 
Wide is its path and grim and dread 
The devastation 'neath it spread; 
When past the groves, it staj's its course, 
Then back returns with tenfold force; 
Another path of ruin dread 
Behind its roaring flight is spread; 
So through that grove of lances bright, 
Rode to and fro King Arthur's knight; 
And all before him, right and left, 
Went down with heads and helmets cleft, 
Slaughtered and dj'ing strew the ground 
While armor clangs with horrid sound 
And thunders through those ramparts tall, 
Like waters o'er some might}^ fall — 
And echo OA'^er hill and glen. 

XXXIV. 

Not tamely died those armed men: 
They closed upon King Arthur's knight, 
With sword and spear and axes bright; 
Three times they closed in fierce array. 
And three times stopped his gorj^ way. 
While on his shield with horrid clang 
Their spears and swords and axes rang. 
With fearful din they closed on him, 
Like roarings of tlie lions grim 
Upon the night o'er shadowed wild, 
With reeking slaughter round them piled; 



ARTELOISE. 35 

And hunger drives them on amain, 
To make themselves tombs of tlie slain. 
They closed like angry billows' shock, 
At midnight on a solid rock, 
Whose lofty head with giant pines 
Towering o'er the deep inclines; 
Who while the floods are rocked below, 
The roaring storms that o'er them blow; 
In thousand shapes their branches throw, 
And from them make fell tumult flow; 
The branches clash, the waters roar, 
On tempests mingled tumults pour. 
And waked b^^ nature's fierce unrest 
The eagles leave their loft^^ nest; 
And mounting on the tempest's car. 
High o'er the elemental jar. 
They flap their wings, then whirl around. 
Send far their screams on night profound; 
So on that knight those men closed in, 
With trumpet's clang and armor's din. 

XXXY. 

But while amidst that darkness dread 
Their blows at Arthur's knight they sped, 
Full manj^ a warrior's buckler broad 
Was rent hy his own comrade's sword; 
Full man}^ a brawny bosom there 
Was pierced by its own comrade's spear; 
B}'' scores they fell amongst the slain. 
By their own men, not Beau do Main; 
Yet fought that hero fierce and grim, 
'Till not one living stood round him. 
Died out the trumpet's stirring peal, 
And ceased the horrid clang of steel; 



SB ARTELOISE. 

Then through the darkness burst a flame, 

That gleaming o'er the ramparts came, 

And ceased of pain, the horrid din 

That roar'd like storms those walls within; 

The setting sun his glor}^ threw, 

Around and all that gloom withdrew; 

There round the hero lay his foes, 

All stark and still in dread repose; 

There broken armor strew 'd the ground. 

Heads cleft or pierced with wounds profound: 

They lay in reeking crimson drown'd. 

None save that hei'o and his guide 

Were living 'midst that wreck espied. 

Where that huge steed and rider lay 

Those twain there bent their eager way; 

His towering plume of sable hue 

From off his glittering helm they drew; 

Then doff his helm and visor all, 

Full on his face the sunbeams fall. 

Darker than night his shaggy beard, 

Matted o'er visage stern appeared; 

A savage frown those features wore, 

As always in their life they bore; 

And glared his eyes in death unr-losed, 

As fierce as when he foe opposed; 

Dark as the shades of night were the}-, 

And gleam'd in death with piercing ray; 

O'er them his brows descending flowed, 

Black as e'er raven's plumage glowed; 

Like eagle's bill his massive nose 

Descending o'er his mouth arose; 

But this was hid from human e^'e. 

With heavy beard of sable dye; 



ARTELOISE. 3"; 

A fiercer countenance on man 
Than his, ne'er j-et did nature scan. 
Taking his face and bearing all, 
His mighty statue broad and tall. 
Ponderous limbs of massive length, 
That all bespoke a monster's strength; 
He seem'd more like a Titan grim 
Than one of mortal form and limb. 

XXXVI. 

But he was one of mortal mould, 
A giant cruel, stiong and bold, 
As in history we are told 
Were often seen in days of old, 
And wrought to mortal's dole and wrong. 
His were those bulwarks tall and strong. 
Whose walls of i-ock so broad and high, 
Might wear of storm and time defy; 
Whose bristling parapets and towers 
Scoffing frown 'd at human poAvers. 
Right often did King Arthur's ear 
Strange stories of these ramparts hear; 
They told him of its mighty lord, 
His savage statue tall and broad, 
In size surpassing those of earth, 
And who from monsters drew his birth; 
Who lived on flesh of mortal men. 
And drank their blood; who in his den 
Unnumbered captives held in thrall. 
Good knights and gentle ladies all. 
But never could King Arthur's eye 
The passage to those walls descry — 
By day and night the path he sought, 
But ne'er a clue to it he caught; 



38 ARTELOISE. 

Or unto it had sped that king, 

With all the knights that he could bring. 

And he had raised that bulwark's wall, 

Those captives straight had set from thrall, 

Or he had with them found his fall 

Beneath that grisly giant tall; 

But of road or path no single clue 

To reach those walls could Arthur view, 

So safe from hand of mortal foe 

They proudly scoffed at all below, 

And safe within its lofty hold 

Dwelt its tyrant owner fierce and bold. 

Surrounded by a mighty throng 

Of followers, haughty, huge and strong, 

Who through the force of Beau de Main 

Were numbered 'mongst the gory slain. 

And for allies the giant sought 

All who in necromancy wrought; 

All conjurers of magic spell 

Who wrought on earth the lore of hell; 

Who could enchantments cast around. 

And men with wizard's charms confound; 

All those who could those arts unfold 

Found favor in that lofty hold; 

Through them he hidden kept the road 

From men that led to his abode. 

But ways there were and more than three 

That gave egress and ingress free, 

By which could pass both steeds and men, 

From there unto the distant glen. 

Easier far and safer more 

Than that De Main had travelled o'er. 



ARTELOISE. 39 

And when a destined deed he'll do, 
He'll break the subtle secrets through, 
To every road he'll find the clue 
And easily each road pursue. 

XXXVII. 

In glowing chambers of the West 
The sun's in all his glory drest. 
Basking beneath his tingeing smile 
Float round unnumbered clouds the while, 
O'er his bright disk their forms they throw, 
And 'neatli him all resplendent glow. 
All o'er the sky the clouds are rolled 
With hues of amber and of gold , 
With forms apart by sunbeams torn, 
They all the western skies adorn. 
But in the East a mighty cloud 
Doth all the sky with sable shroud; 
From earth imto the zenith's bound. 
It spread its robe of gloom profound; 
But bright on the darkness that it reared 
A vision of glory there appeared; 
It came like a spirit on the cloud, 
Whose beauty could no darkness shroud; 
It spread in a glorious arch, 
From horizon to zenith did march. 
Then sublime in its grandeur it stood, 
O'er hanging the mountains and wood. 
The valleys, the torrents, and flood, 
Tingeing their flow with the hues of blood; 
Sped the rays of the sun frona the land, 
Yet, that iris the heavens still spann'd; 
Near the earth it ends darkened anon. 
While in the zenith it still beam'd on, 



40' ABTELOISE. 

Smiled on earth like an angel of light, 

'Till the sunbeams departed from sight. 

Then away like a phantom it fled, 

And dense darkness after it sped. 

Night o'er the mountains her banner unfuii'd, 

And solid gloom settled over the world. 



PART II. 



At midnight round that lofty wall, 

Wherein was utter silence all, 

That hero and his trusty guide 

All noiseless as two spectres ride; 

A solid darkness grim and drear 

Lay o'er the sk}- and everywhere, 

While silence horrid and profound 

Reigned over all the hills around; 

No breath of air the darkness stirred, 

Nor rustling of a leaf was heard; 

No night-hawk's scream, no shriek of owl, 

No stir of bats, nor watch-dogs' howl, 

Though many in those walls were bred, 

Stirr'd once with sound that darkness dread. 

All was as silent and as dark 

As is the dead oak's withered bark, 

That lies at night on desert sand, 

Charred by the lightning's blasting brand; 

All was as silent as the tomb, 

And spread around as dense a gloom, 



ARTELOISE. 41 

Around all nature seem'd to rest, 

As if with some grim awe oppressed; 

In stillness horrible she stood, 

Like mourner wrapped in sable hood, 

Whom grief has freed of vital breath, 

And placed upon the lap of death. 

But the dreadest silence ever born 

Shall with stirring sound of man be torn, 

And he shall break through every spell 

By witches brought to earth from hell; 

He shall crush their power and might, 

Through him from earth they'll wing their flight, 

And he shall turn their realms of night 

To regions, joyous, grand and bright. 

His dauntless soul and stalwart arm 

Shall burst the wizard's fatal charm; 

The fell necromancer's power 

Through man shall find its d3'ing hour; 

He all spells, arts and charms shall quell, 

And victor stand o'er those and hell. 

Foremost of all in nature's clime, 

And all the universe sublime, 

"Where being is, shall man be found, 

And be its king forever crown 'd; 

And subject be to only Him 

Who fashioned body, soul and limb, 

Created after His own plan. 

Breathed in hini life, and called him man. 

II. 

Apace the night was speeding on, 
Yet did black darkness all things don; 
Meanwhile that hero and his guide 
A gateway in the walls espied; 



t'l ARTELOISE. 

But it was close and bolted fast, 
With locks deep set in granite vast, 
And formed of such stupendous bars 
And beams of steel and brass, it mars 
That stalwart hero's utmost strength, 
To e'en shake its ponderous length; 
But through its bars his gaze he cast, 
And peered into those bulwarks vast, 
And there he saw far, far awa}^, 
A flame of blue unearthly ray; 
Within a grisly skull it burn'd, 
Which round and round forever turn'd 
As doth the windmill in the blast, 
And horrid sparks around it cast. 
'Twas just one thousand 3' ears that night 
Since first was lit that hellish light, 
Yet day and night that flame had burn'd, 
And round and round the skull had turn'd, 
Showering sparks in ceaseless flight. 
Astonished gazed the wondering knight, 
While ghastly figures round it drew, 
And caught the sparks that from it flew; 
Held them before their glaring e^es, 
And watched them into serpents rise; 
Which soon as they with being breathed. 
They round their aemon bodies wreathed. 
One saw he 'mongst those demons grim 
Tar more dread both in shape and limb 
Than all the rest; this grisly- form 
Was black as cloud of thunder storm; 
His massive breast and limbs of length 
Showed him a monster huge in strength, 



ARTELOISE. 43 

His horrid eyes gleamM fierce witli light, 

But black as is the womb of night; 

Bald was his head and o'er his face 

Was seen of hair no single trace; 

His horrid mouth a tusk revealed, 

Huge as the boss on hero's shield; 

And from each side with gleaming fang 

Did two grim hissing serpents hang; 

Huge was his nose, from nostrils broad 

Eternal jets of steam he poured; 

A crown wrought out of bones of men, 

And whiter than the frost on fen, 

High on his grisly head he wore, 

And plainly this device it bore: 
/^""ho e'er o'ercomes this form in fight 
'Shall with its blood destroy the light 
j That in this skull forever burns, 

And round and round forever turns; 
, When it is quenched the wizard's power 
! Shall instant fly this fatal tower; 
Brave must he be and sti'ong his arm, 

Who dares to deal us dole and harm. 
Scarce this the gazing knight had read 
Than swift he sees that monster dread 
Grasp in his hands a might}' spear, 
Vast as an oak the mountains rear — 
Weighty and knott}', thick and long, 
Steel'd at the end both keen and strong; 
Round it he coils a serpent vast, 
That hisses flame horrid and 'ghast — 
As lightnings from the clouds are cast, 
When they ride at night on the blast; 
Then high o'er his head he shakes the sj^ear, 
Whirls it round and around in air, 



44 ARTEIOISE. 

All as easy as some frail toy 
In the hand of a stalwart bo}'. 
Then round him danced unearthlj^ forms, 
And rose a wail like rising storms; 
"When on the night o'er shadow'd plain 
The storm king comes with all his main; 
And eagles scream and flap their wings, 
High o'er the tumult that he brings. 

III. 

Swift towards the gate where stood the knight 

Came on that form of demon might; 

Close at his side a monster grim, 

Of all unearthly shape and limb 

Moved its ponderous length along, 

Swift as an elephant and strong; 

And like that beast its head it reared, 

A trunk and two huge tusks appeared; 

And o'er its back a scaly hide 

Harder than steel the knight espied; 

But where its neck and shoulders met 

Was no defense 'gainst weapon set; 

This saw the knight and marked the spot, 

!Nor in the fray that place forgot. 

Ten legs from earth the monster bore. 

Seven behind and three before; 

And these were armed with mighty claws, 

Like those round prey the lion draws; 

And from it hung a snaky tail, 

All covered o'er with horny scale; 

Onward it came with lordly stride, 

Its sable master close beside. 



ARTELOISE. 45 



lY. 



Open the gate the giant threw, 

Against the solid wall it flew — 

With dread recoil and jarring sound, 

That fiU'd with din the air around; 

"While its huge hinges grating roar'd, 

And hoarse, harsh thunders round it pour 'd. 

And forth upon King Arthur's knight 

Kushed out that form of demon might. 

As on he came in swift career 

On high he reared his knotted spear; 

While high in air its gleaming point 

Shone like a steeple's topmost joint; 

Ere yet it took its downward flight 

Upon that gallant steed and knight, 

As bursts from cloud a flash of flame, 

Full on the giant grim he came; 

And through his bosom deep and broad 

Up to the hilt he drove his sword; 

And long before that giant's spear 

Began to downward cleave the air, 

His sword the good knight drew amain, 

And pierced him through and through again. 

Through heart and lungs the blade he drove, 

And heart and lungs asunder clove; 

Back on his monster huge and grim 

The giant went with quivering limb; 

Beneath his weight the monster fell 

Crushed to the earth, and roar'd a yell 

That shook the startled air around, 

As if did hoarded thunders sound; 

Then swifter than a flash of thought 

On it his blade the good kuigh!; brought— 



46 ARTELOISE. 

Right where the neck and shoulders grew, 
And through that place his falchion flew — 
That head to earth 'midst warm blood sunk, 
And dying writhed the headless trunk. 
Dropped from the giant's knotted spear. 
The grisly serpent he'd coiled there — 
Writhing it lay with broken fang, 
And heaved on earth its dying pang. 
Then in a vessel deep and wide, 
That lay that lofty gate beside, 
The Ivuight caught up that giant's gore, 
Fill'd it so it would hold no more; 
And towards that all infernal light. 
That glared within tliat skull so bright, 
He onwai'd spurr'd his snorting liorse, 
Swift as storm sweeps o'er its course. 
And as storm in vigor and force 
That sweeps over seas of the Norse 1 

V. 

As that strange light the hero uear'd, 
Round it unearthly forms appear 'd; 
Loud neighed the steed and prick'd his ears, 
And seems at times o'erwhelm'd with fears 
At what there round that light appears, 
And sounds that from that flame he hears; 
Trembles that steed through form and limb, 
Before that flame so strange and grim, 
And not till in his foamy flank 
Right oft and deep the rowels sank 
Would he approach that hellish light, 
And near it bring King Arthur's knight. 



ARTELUISE. 47 

VI. 

Right o'er the flame the hero drew, 

And on it fast the gore he threw; 

But ere that flame to darkness grew 

Gore round in hissing showers flew; 

And rising clouds of smoke and steam, 

Gives it a more infernal gleam. 

Again on it the gore he threw, 

And unto utter night it grew; 

While hiss'd it like the seething steel 

When first its heat the waters feci. 

Then rocked those ramparts dread and strange 

As if through them did whirlwinds range; 

And all things round began to change 

Their color, aspect, size and form, 

Like clouds before the driving storm. 

Shook lofty parapet and tower, 

Like leaves in autumn's wind}^ bower; 

While all unsightly figures glide 

Around the walls on eA^erj^ side; 

Then instant vanish in the air 

With horrid shriekings of despair; 

Filling the solid gloom around 
With tumult dismal and profound; 
Shook ib as if huge birds of prey 
Forever through it winged their waj-; 
And flapped their pinions with a sound 
That made the air like waves rebound, 
When wild the ocean's surges roar, 
Waging fray at night on rocky shore; 
Or like huge sails on stately mast, 
That flap amidst the midnight blast, 
While waves toss 'neath the storm's control 
And overhead the thunders roll. 



48 ARTELOISfc. 



VII. 



Dead silence came a little space, 
And rested over nature's face, 
And from the battlements and -u'alls 
The solid gloom that instant falls; 
Springs up a breeze that fans the air, 
And all the gloom doth disappear — 
Unnumbered stars in heaven shine, 
And cast below their light divine; 
And all around the ramparts rise 
Distinctly to the hero's e3'es. 
Bright in the East o'er mountains green 
The half-fill'd, ascending moon is seen; 
Enormous clouds around her sail, 
And make at times her lustre pale; 
But their edges cragg}', dark and torn, 
She doth with glo^7ing light adorn; 
Gives all a glory not their own, 
That circle round her beaming throne, 
And on the dewy forests green 
She pours her all bewitching sheen; 
And where, amidst the far-off trees. 
At times moves forth the gentle breeze, 
Where leaves are waving to and fro, 
The pearly dew-drops that they show, 
Glitter beneath her glowing beam, 
And molten, flowing silver seem. 
And barren rocks o'er mountains thrown, 
That never moss nor tree have grown; 
!Nor sign of vintage yet have known, 
She decks with glory not their own; 
Huge rocks of iron and of lime, 
Imperviou3 to storm or time; 



ARTELOISE. 49 

Beneath her all enlivening glow, 
The lustre of the diamond show; 
And over all that lofty wall, 
High parapet and tower tall, 
Her glowing beams in glory fall, 
And fill with light those ramparts all. 
O'er spread with sheen and peace sublime, 
All rested there throughout that clime. 

VIH. 

Towards a casement broad and tall, 
Placed in that bulwark's granite wall, 
Where suddenly a taper burns, 
His scanning eyes that hero turns; 
And there beheld a weeping throng 
Of youths and maidens fair and strong. 
Between their tears and wails of woe, 
That all throughout those bulwarks flow, 
And make them with their anguish ring, 
A sorrow-laden song the;y sing. 
The language of those strains they sung 
Seem'd ever of the Hebrew tongue; 
But one that on the hero's ear 
Fell aye most dismal and most drear, 
With sorrow freighted wild and grim, 
His guide thus rendered unto him: 

IX. 

Shall our anguish never end ? 
Must we neath it forever bend ? 
Have Ave no Saviour, God or friend. 
Who'll pity take and succor send ? 
Must our poor frames forever feel 
The tyrant's chains and burning steel ? 



50 ARTELOISE. 

His scourging lash and crushing wheel, 

Whose pains make soul and senses reel ? 

That leaves the body numbed with pain 

'Till scarce the blood crawls through the vein; 

Then tighter draws the clanking chain, 

'Till we for gold shall ransom gain ? 

Oh, who will our succor be ? 

Oh, who will us from tortures free ? 

Who'll bring the hoard and pay the fee ? 

God of heaven, we look to Thee 1 

Thou God of Jacob, who of old 

The gushing floods from Horeb rolled, 

Who waters of the sea controllVl, 

And through them led Thy chosen fold; 

Who amidst thunder, smoke and flame 

On Sinai's mount to Moses came, 

Who with fire and sword Thy name 

Did unto Israel's foes proclaim 1 

God of Abraham, who of old 

The glories of his race foretold ! 

With pity here our pains behold, 

For we belong unto that fold ! 

Bid this long night of bondage break, 

And bid the morn of freedom wake; 

God 1 upon us mere}' take, 

If but for only Isaac's sake 1 

X. 

Ceased the sad song and sadder strain. 
But in the ear of Beau de Main 
It rung as deep and wild and strong 
As when their voices woke the song. 
E'en when long years had past, his ear 
Seem'd still that mournful song to hear; 



ABTELOISE. 51 

Go where he would, its echoes still 
Seem'd ever on his ears to thrill. 
But while they sang that mournful lay 
The beams of morning, hoar and gray, 
Along the eastern skies began 
With light the universe to span; 
And soon Aurora's rosy car 
Had paled the moon and dimmed east star; 
Cast over hill and dale below 
The sun's warm light and cheering glow; 
Beneath his sheen the forests wide, 
O'er hill and dale and mountain's side, 
Put on that dark green, waving glow, 
They only 'neath his lustre show; 
While high o'er them on flapping Tsing 
Did birds their morning praises sing; 
And distant stream and mountain flood 
Donn'd hues of crimson, gold and blood; 
And o'er the fall, the torrent's spray 
Like diamond flashed beneath his ra}^; 
While all the hills of clouds that rolled 
Around his disk were turn'd to gold. 

XI. 

Bright on the parapets and towers 
The sun displays his morning powers; 
Through all that castle's ample halls 
The flooding light of sunshine falls. 
Those men themselves from saddles free, 
And tie their chargers to a tree 
That rear'd itself erect and tall, 
As was that bulwark's loft}- wall. 
Then through a doorway tall and wide. 
Moved on that hero and his guide — 



52 ARTEL0I8E. 



From room to room, from door to door, 
They all that stately place explore. 
And many things they there behold, 
Like urns and vases wrought of gold; 
Huge sceptres, crowns and diadems, 
Set thick with flashing, starry gems; 
Huge polished helms with gold inlaid. 
Piled high they in those rooms surveyed; 
And swords whose hilts with gems were crown'd 
That blinding lightnings flashed around. 
And there did piles of treasure gleam 
More vast than e'er in thought or dream 
A miser yet conceived, and more 
Than ever formed a monarch's store. 
But with contempt from all this hoard, 
And gems that flashed their light abroad, 
As sheen as ever lightning burn'd, 
The glory-seeking hero turn'd: 
Such prize as it his spirit spurn 'd; 
/Immortal renown, deathless fame, 
[Was his soul's only thought and aim; 
And that glory must by him be won. 
Where only knightly deeds are done; 
Brave hell and fiends and all their wrath, 
But never swerve from virtue's path. 



XII. 

Down to the gloomy vaults below, 
Whence throes of pain eternal flow — 
Where groans, wails, lamentations, sighs, 
In divers languages arise — 
With curses ever and anon. 
That hero and his guide move on. 



ARTEL0I8E, 53 

From vault to vault, o er stony floors, 
Through iron gates and massive doors, 
Whose hinges grated, creaked and roar'd, 
Those twain the grisly place explored. 
Gyves, shackles and rusty chains, 
Bespattered thick with gory stains, 
Are piled in windrows long and tall, 
And hang upon the mouldy wall. 
Yet, in the rings of some are seen 
Bones crusted o'er with mildew green — 
Showing that forms of human kind 
Those grisly fetters once did bind; 
And they not only in them died. 
But into skeletons they dried; 
There perished and consumed away, 
'Till scarce of them a vestige lay. 
In one set of fetters they espied 
A youth who but lately must have died; 
All naked was his wasting form, 
And it did worms consuming swarm; 
Its skin from end to end was flaw'd. 
Where vermin, rats and mice had gnaw'd; 
O'er it green mould was growing fast. 
And stifling fumes from it was cast. 
And other sets securely span 
Skeletons of woman or of man, 
With flesh entirely destroyed. 
Whose eyes displayed their horrid void; 
Whose hollow ribs and grinning skull 
Tell gazers there did tyrants cull 
All vengeance, hate and ire grim. 
They could from human form and limb. 
Sickened with the fell scenes around, 



54 ARTELOISE. 

As before he'd ne'er seen nor found, 

With hasty steps he onward drew 

To where that wail of anguish grew; 

And soon within a vault he found 

A throng of youths in fetters bound; 

Whose bodies horrid sears reveal, 

From burning oil and fusing steel; 

With their toes, ears and fingers lopped, 

And strown o'er floors where tliey had dropped, 

With eyes that from grim sorrow glare. 

Upon those twain the}- fix their stare; 

Cease tlieir wail of anguish deep, 

And stop the scalding tears they weep; 

With parted lips and glaring eyes 

They view the twain w^th dumb surprise. 

xiri. 

Mute stood the knight a little space, 
And in it view'd each captive's face; 
On all their featui'es woe and want 
And famine stared forth grim and gaunt; 
Such grisly wrecks in shapes of men 
Had ne'er been seen by him 'till then; 
Naked stood each poor captive's form, 
As leafless trees in winter's storm; 
And even all their hair and beard 
The captor's rage and hate had shared; 
All this unto the roots was singed, 
And dark with flame the skin was. tinged, 
While scars were seen from head to heel. 
Prom scalding oil and burning steel; 
Some deep unto the bones were burn'd. 



ARTELOISE. 55 

Awed at the sight, the hero turn'd 

In haste his sicken'd gaze away, 

Wliere casement broad let in the light of day. 

Througli it far off the walls he spied 

Of stately towers, tall and wide, 

And on their walls were easements seen 

Whence curtains stream of gold and green, 

Of yellow, crimson, red and blue. 

And every varied shade and hue 

That art or nature jet could show, 

Or both of these shall ever know; 

Amidst the flooding sunshine's glow, 

On winds that wave them to and fro; 

Rich fabrics they as e'er were wrought, 

Or ever yet to kings were brought, 

From Carthage, Tyre or Sidon's looms. 

O'er them each flower in nature blooms, 

Each flower its native hue assumes. 

Just as nature it with beavit}- plumes. 

Upon the all-enchanting scene 

Long gazed the knight with vision keen; 

Long looked the knight, for twice he saw 

Forms of surpassing beauty draw 

TJnto those casements broad and high; 

Gaze each with sorrow streaming e3^e. 

And saw their scalding teardrops fall 

Like rain flow down the lofty wall, 

Which neither wind nor sunshine di'ied. 

While there he gazed his hoary guide 

Each captive of his fetters freed — 

Did all from out that dungeon lead. 

Into a court-j'ard long and broad, 

Through which clear streams of water pour'd; 



56 ARTELOISE. 

But as they reached the crystal wave, 
Ere yet a hand those waters lave, 
There side by side right on its brink 
O'er worn with famine, those captives sink, 
Breathing the saddest word that Fate 
E'er gave to man — Too late ! too late 1 
And hand in hand, and side by side: 
Breathing this word, those captives died; 
B}^ famine wasted gaunt and grim, 
With grisly scars o'er form and limb: 
A horrid spectacle they made, 
As side by side in death they laid. 
O'er the ghastly scene a mournful view 
The old man cast and swift withdrew; 
Then with the hero swift he speeds 
"Where e'er the eye or fancy leads. 

XIV. 

Into that castle huge and grand, 
Where weeping forms at windows stand, 
With hasty step those twain speed on. 
Where groans rise ever and anon — 
Strike on the vaulted roof around, 
And fill the air with dismal sound. 
Yet onward swift the twain explore 
Until they reach a loft}^ door, 
Wliich marks of time and ruin wore, 
And on it this inscription bore: 

inscription: 
Mortal 1 be it woman, maid or man, 
Fear the secrets of this hall to scan: 
For whosoever enters here 
Shall never leave these halls of fear; 



ARTELOISE. 57 

Rash adventurer, read this o'er, 
Then turn back and intrude no more I 

XV. 

That I'll ne'er do, the knight began, 

While I can hilt of broadsword span; 

While I am warm'd with blood of man, 

I fear no secrets there to scan. 

He said, and 'gainst the loft}- door 

His strength he threw; with harsh, loud roar 

Of grating hinge it open flew, 

And swift the twain within it drew; 

While burst unearthly- jells of scorn. 

That fill'd their ears like blasts from horn. 

Soon as they clear'd the doorway broad 

A hand unseen, a flaming sword, 

Struck on the door; with deafening sound 

It fill'd the lofty walls around; 

And closed again the door was sprung. 

While hinges hoarse, harsh thunders rung; 

Through wide wastes of bowers and halls, 

Whose splendor on their vision falls — 

With varied glory, such as streams 

On banks of broken clouds, when gleams 

The setting sun behind a storm, 

And limns 'midst them the rainbow's form. 

It seem'd all charms of earth and sky 

Did ohere in mingling glory vie; 

And all the wealth in nature known 

Was there in rich confusion thrown. 

There goblets bright with gold inlaid. 

And tables all of silver made, 

On which huge piles of coin were piled, 

All round with burnished lustre smiled. 



68 - ARTELOISE. 

There golden vases, trays and urns 

Are seen where e'er the vision turns; 

With those of silver, whose lustre burns 

Like flame and e'en that brightness spurns; 

And all the place with splendor churns, 

While high o'er head tlie eye discerns, 

From lofty walls and ceilings hung, 

Banners as gay as ever flung 

Their folds upon the breeze's wings 

When triumphal marched the eastern kings. 

O'er casements wide were curtains thrown, 

Of every tinge and color known; 

Through which the sun his lustre threw, 

And spread on all enchanted hue — 

Of every sheen and varied shade 

That ever art or nature made. 

While did at every casement stand 

Forms all like mortal maidens plann'd; 

And fashioned all as fair and grand 

As e'er the eye of mortal scann'd. 

Some wore long, golden, wavy hair, 

Which like the sunshine stream'd through air, 

While some wore dark as is the shade 

Of which the raven's plume is made; 

And all as glossy and as sheen 

As is that polished lustre seen 

Upon the sable serpent's hide, 

Where sunshine gilds his glossy pride. 

And every form that there appears 

Seems to be a Niobe of tears; 

With heads lean'd o'er the casement's sill, 

They fast eternal tears distill; 

Like human tears they seem to fall, 



AIITELOISE. 



5S 



And flow adown the castle wall; 
But not from them a murmur flows 
Nor slightest sound of mortal throes- 
Save tears all seem'd as void of woes 
As rock down which the water goes. 
Upon a statue nobly plann'd 
The hero placed his steel-clad hand— 
Back from her face her tresses threw, 
And on her features fixed his view, 
And thus began in merry mood: 



XVI. 



In me did darkening horror brood, 
And boil'd my blood through every limb 
When first from yonder dungeon grim 
These forms of weeping maids I saw; 
I would have sworn I view'd them draw 
Their faces from these casements high, 
And then return with weeping eye; 
I saw them move I would have sworn, 

And vow'd they were of woman born 

I little deem'd, but here I'd seek, 
And gentle maidens find and meek; 
Not forms that neither breathe nor speak: 
Wrought by the chisel of some Greek; 
Who out of silent stone can form 
A shape that seems with being warm; 
That seems to bow and move and walk, 
Its nostrils breathe, and lips to talk. 
And I had also sworn when first 
These forms upon my vision burst, 
That I heard groans and sighs of pain 
Ring on mine ears again, again ! 



QO ARTELOISB. 

Perhaps in them poor mortals dwell, 
Closed up in them by magic spell — 
Brought up to earth by fiends from hell, 
Wnich hero's arm and soul shall quell. 
But now this secret I will test: 
For whtn I came upon this quest, 
I secret swore within my breast 
That I would neither pause nor rest 
'Till every cursed wizard's charm 
I did of all its force disarm; 
And set each pining captive free 
That might within this castle be. 
And this I'll do while my good breath 
Keeps me from numbers grim, of death. 
As this he said, an axe he caught 
Within his hand, and down he brought 
The polished weapon, huge and dread, 
With force immense upon the statue's head. 
On the floor that blow the statue threw, 
Which in a tliousand fragments flew; 
While all that axe of ponderous mass 
To atoms sped like scattered glass; 
And all the air around was torn 
With loud, unearthly yells of scorn, 
And scream'd a voice from out a vault: 
Stay here thy course, rash mortal, halt 1 

XVII. 

That I'll not do, the knight replied. 
With voice that roar'd as far and wide, 
And shook the startled air around 
With just as much of life and sound I 
That I'll not do, for Avlien I sped 
To search this castle grim and dread, 



ARTELOISE. 61 

I secret swore within my soul 
No force in man, no fiend's control — • 
Should make me either pause or rest 
'Till I had sped through all my quest; 
And none of force that the}^ control 
Shall make me perjure my true soul; 
Nor shall the3^ ever dull the zest 
Por glory throbbing in my breast. 
With my good sword my path I'll hew, 
Though foes unnumbered rise to view; 
And die, or honor's path pursue, 
Nor reck I who shall mourn or rue 
The way I tread, all those I harm 
Deeds of true glory cannot charm. 
Back I'd not turn for all the hoard 
That mortals own in nature broad, 
'Till I have all this place explored, 
And glory won with my good swoi'd; 
'Till all shall fall beneath its swa}^, 
He said, and moved upon his way. 

XVIII. 

On through wastes of bowers and halls. 

That vaster grow as they proceed — 
Where paintings hang on all the walls. 

And eyes with chanting beaut}^ feed; 
Where through silken screens the sunlight falls 

On mimic forest, field and mead, 
On mountain glen that rock enthralls. 

Those twain in utter silence speed. 
There wrought in wax are forests seen, 

Standing on all those spacious floors — 
Glowing on high with native green, 

As when they bloom o'er hills and moors; 



62 ABTELOISE. 

There gum and beach and poplar tall, 

The chestnut, oak and lofty pine, 
The cedar, maple, ash and all 

That grow on glen or steep incline; 
While over all their heads doth crawl 

The binding folds of spreading vine, 
While at their feet from wall to wall 

The dark green, glossy grasses shine. 
And flowers of every shape and hue 

Are 'midst those spreading forests seen. 
The 3^ellow, crimson, white and blue 

Bloom on their stems of lifelike green; 
And spacious orchards bloom around — 

The cherry, apple, peach and pear, 
With lifelike fruit or blossoms crown'd. 

On high their stately heads they rear — 
And there blooming gage and plum 

Threw round their branches tough and frim 
With life-like tears of oozing gum, 

That spread o'er every bole and limb. 
And waved the tall acacia round, 

The palm, the orange and the lime — 
All trees and shrubs in nature found, 

That bud and bloom in every clime. 

XIX. 

Then next they see a forest wide. 

That on a rocky mountain stands — 
It covers all its dark brown side. 

As planted there by nature's hands; 
'Tis autumn there, the trees are bare 

Of dark green leaves and bloomy spra}', 
But suns and frosts have smitten there, 

And turn'd them red and brown and gra3^• 



ABTELOISE. 63 

But ample fruit their branches load, 

In clusters from each limb 'tis hung, 
AncI over all its soil 'tis strowed 

In rich and grand abundance flung. 
And then amidst a seeming fen, 

Where nuts and acorns strew the ground, 
Unnumbered Avild hogs make their den. 

And view their paradise ai'ound. 
Then next, unmeasured wastes they see 

Where grass seems ever waving gr^ien, 
There all earthly monsters wander free 

As in the wilds of nature seen: 
The lion, elephant and bear. 

The tiger and the kangaroo, 
With h3"enas, seem to wander there 

With rhinoceros and leopard too; 
And every beast that mortals fear. 

Or lonely jungles bring to view: 
And lifelike there they all appear. 

As if they in the jungle grew. 

XX. 

Next meets the eye a field of wheat" 

That rears its ripen'd ears on high, 
And near it brown'd with rain and heat. 

Waves ripe a waste of lofty r3'e; 
And all around the reapers stand 

With arm unto the elbow bared. 
The shining sickle fills one hand, 

The other with cut grain appear'do 
Next, fields of corn in even rows 

Stately in tassel 'd bloom is seen, 
The same as on the moor it grows 

When waving in its pride of green. 



64 ARTELOISE. 

And oft the waving blades disclose 

The plowman with his team between, 
Or youths and maids with shining hoes, 

And all of sprightly mortal mien; 
Some, while seen to wave the blades above 

Their heads and hide them from the rest, 
Received their harmless kiss of love 

From those they seem to prize the best. 
Tlien next a hoary lodge arose 

Half seen amidst a lofty grove, 
Its front a shallow river shows 

Whose waters over pebbles rove. 
And far to left and far to right, 

Where e'er the searching eye may view, 
Vast herds of cattle rise to sight 

'Midst pastures rich as ever grew; 
There lifelike stood the stately steer, 

With hidden ribs and glossy hide; 
There seem'd the steeds in swift career, 

With heads erect and nostrils wide, 
All startled into mortal fear, 

By eagles flying at their side. 
And there 'midst pastures rich and rare 

Were mighty herds of kine espied; 
And sheep unnumbered thronged the scene. 

With skipping lambs that round them pla3''d, 
While clad from head to heel in green 

The watchful shepherds near them straj^'d. 
But who can limw the varied scenes 

That rose to view amidst those halls ? 
That rose in wax-work or on screens, 

Or canvas vast, along those walls ' 



ARTELOTSE. 65 

E'en there the bounding ship careens, 

On it the rolling billow falls — 
The bending mast o'er ocean leans, 

Through it the flying surge recalls; 
The clouds around the sun are roll'd. 

Yet comes enough of glancing ray 
To light the waves b}^ storms cuntroU'd, 

And gild their crest with sparkling spray, 
While on that vessel's foamy wake 

Huge whales from ocean rise to view, 
O'er their grim forms the surges break, 

And o'er these screams the white seamew. 
The tattered sail on flj'ing gale 

Still clinging to the lonely mast, 
The trembling crew, the helmsman pale. 

Seem living on the canvas cast; 
Each seems to breatiie, and stand alive 

Upon that vessel's wave-washed deck, 
And did with all their power strive 

To fight the floods that would them wreck; 
That would her unto ruin drive, 

If left to winds and billow's beck. 
Next rose a mountain scene sublime, 

Adown whose lofty woody slope, 
Like fairies of the olden time, 

Came fawn and spotted antelope; 
From peak to peak, from crag to crag. 

That bold and high stand o'er the rest, 
Was seen the goat and bounding stag, 

And eagle soaring o'er her nest. 
While like the witch or midnight hag. 

The owl stared from a rock's high crest; 



^ , ARTELOISE. 

While their huge length grim serpents drag, 

With heads erect, for victims quest; 
With flaming tongues and glaring eyes 

Their folds around their prey they coil; 
And darting irom the canvas rise, 

As in some sultrj^ native soil. 
Next battle-scenes the walls assume: 

Glittering axe and spear and shield, 
And blazing helm and nodding plume, 

With flaming swords flash o'er tlu field; 
Sheathed ai'e the men from head to heel. 

In armor bright as flashing flame — 
With mighty shields of brass and steel, 

Where sevenfolds together came; 
And riveted so sure and fast 

No spear nor mace nor axe nor sword — 
Could their strong ties asunder cast. 

Nor pierce nor bi'eak the egis broad. 
The armies were together roll'd, 

In mixed, confused and dread affray — 
Through morions bright and helms of gold 

Both axe and falchion made their wa}^; 
And over field and gor}^ wold 

Unnumbered dead and d^'ing lay; 
And on those dead the chargers tread, 

And crush out reeking brains and gore 
And the blood of the djing spread 

With their iron hoofs upon the moor. 
And over steeds and riders bold 

Thick grows the dust and gory spraj"-, 
As plain the twain the scenes behold: 

As there were men and waging fray; 



AKI'ELOISE. 61 

Cloyed of the scenes around these roll'd, 

With keener haste they speed their way, 
Past a huge hall were breezes troll 'd, 

From walls vast fabrics rich and gay — 
Silks, satins, velvets and cashmeres, 

And plumes and furs of gaudj^ shade: 
All Carthage, Tyre and Sidon's wares, 

Where were the richest fabrics made. 
Past these in haste the twain move on, 

Through many a strange and winding way 
Where gaud, forever and anon 

They view, no matter where they stray; 
When lo, their ^\ray is cross'd once moi'e 

By door of strange and massive size, 
And with letters cast in golden ore 

This strange inscription meets their e3^es: 

inscription: 

Rash adventurer, would thou dare 

The secrets of these halls behold, 
Thyself thou must of armor bare, 

And wrap thee in a silken fold; 
No mail-clad hero enters here. 

Helmet of neither steel nor gold; 
No glittering shield nor sword nor spear, 

As worn by heroes strong and bold; 
But he who enters here in steel 

Must first aloud this trumpet blow. 
And when these halls have heard its peal, 

'Twill fearful odds against him throw 1 
So, rash adventurer, turn thee back, 

Nor seek to view the prophet's shrine — 
Return upon th}^ journeyed track. 

While life and liberty are thine. 



68 ARTELOISE. 



XXII. 



Such words as those might shake with fear 

He who never a danger dared, 
Who never lifted a sword or sj^ear, 

Nor the perils of battle shared; 
But I hold them as idle things, 

And from me I cast them away — 
Heed them little as shadow from wings 

Of the magpie, sparrow or jay. 
This mighty trumpet I shall blow, 

Its loudest music send abroad — 
All odds it shall against me throw, 

I'll nobly face Avith my good sword. 
"With tliat a mighty trump he raised 

Within his hand, 'twas wrought of gold, 
That lay before the door, and blazed 

With diamonds gorgeous to behold; 
A mighty trump of wondei'ous size, 

And of enchanting beauty wrought — 
A richer and more costly prize 

Was never yet to monarch brought. 
Around and round that trump he turn'd, 

And view'd it o'er from end to cnd^ — 
Where gems of flashing brightness burn'd, 

And did with every color blend. 
Then said, No living thing I've seen 

'Midsc all this waste of gaud}' show, 
Though oft behind some silken screen 

Methought there lurked a secret foe; 
But when with read}^ sword I sought 

The form, and rightly did survey, 
I found of wax or brass 'twas wrought, 

Of marble or of lifeless claj'. 



ARTELOISE. 69 

The work of Roman or of Greek, 

Or of some cunning race of men, 
Who mould tlie forms that seem to speak, 

And seem to mortal being ken. 
If sound of this to me will bring 
The likeness of a human thing, 

With blood and thew and being warm, 
Then let it come, as come it will, 
With fear it shall not make me thrill: 

However dreadful be the form, 
He said, and blew a blast as shrill 
As e'er through gorges of a hill 

Has piped the breath of furious storm. 

XXIII. 

From turret to foundation stone 

Shook all beneath that trumpet's tone, 

As if the walls and solid rock 

Were shaken b}' an earthquake shock; 

And swifter than a flash of flame 

The massive door wide open came. 

It and the vast partition flew 

Back to the walls, and spread to view 

A lofty and enormous hall; 

Where o'er its floors from wall to wall 

Arose an army vast, arrajed 

In gleaming steel, whose lustre made 

A brightness all that place pervade, 

As if it all was wrapt in flame; 

And fire, whose sheen might put to shame 

The brightest earthly blaze that man 

Can into gleaming embers fan. 

O'er his eyes his hand the hero raised, 

To shield them from the sheen that blazed. 



70 ARTELOISE. 

And long Lis searching gaze he threw 

On splendor that there met his view: 

There rank behind rank, line on line, 

Both horse and foot in arnaor shine — 

Enormous steeds and riders grim, 

Of towering form and giant limb; 

High o'er their helms the gaudy plumes, 

Of every color wrought that blooms 

In nature's reign, there waving rise 

In untold splendor; with surprise 

He views the enormous plates of steel 

That arm those forms from head to heel, 

The bossy shields of massive strength, 

And swords of wonderous breadth and length. 

XXIV. 

Foremost of all, five columns deep. 
Huge spearmen stand, the horsemen keep 
From the approach of charging foe, 
Their gleaming spears all rangod arow — 
Levelled and far advanced reveal 
A horrid front of gleaming steel; 
So close their points together shine 
No man between could pass their line, 
And in their front a breastwork stood 
Of craggy rocks and beams of wood. 
Keen looked the gallant knight, but he 
No signs of life could 'mongst them see; 
Where e'er he look'd nought they reveal 
But lifeless images in steel ! 
Nor do their close up visors show 
One sign of e3^es that flash or glow, 
Nor from their chargers' nostrils wide 
Is single sign of breath espied; 



ABTELOISE. ^j 



Silent as death the}' block 'd the puss, 
And were but forms of steel and brass. 

XXV. 

Again the glittering trump be blew, 
And straight that host in motion threw: 
The horsemen swift their falchions drew, 
And seem dread murmurs from them flew, 
As brandished high their weapons gleam 
Bright as the flames the lightnings stream: 
There poised on high each shining brand 
Rests still, as waiting some command; 
While to and fro that host of spears 
A moment moves, then straight appears 
All sign of life from 'mongst them fled, 
And tomblike silence 'mongst them spread. 
Again the trump he blew; no more 
They moved in action as before; 
Again, again, with deafening sound, 
Tliat trumpet's music sped around; 
But not a sign of life it brought. 
It not a sign of action wrought 
Amongst those grisly forms of steel. 
Moveless they stand from head to heel; 
And all in postures stand alike, 
Ready to charge, to thrust or strike. 

XXVI. 

Then spoke the knight, half roused to wrath: 
I swore no force should stop my path 
By either man or fiend controll'd, 
And true unto ray oath I'll hold. 
On yonder grisly host I'll charge. 
And through it make an opening large; 



72 ABTELOISE. 

I'll stir them into motion grim, 
If they be things of form and limb; 
Nor shall they bloek m}' onward road 
'Till greater signs of life are show'd; 
And I have tried their strength of limb, 
He said, and from the breast-work grim, 
Which stood that host of spears before, 
A rock of mighty mass he tore, 
High o'er his head the rock he rear'd — 
Poised in his hand, the rock appeared 
Craggy and weight}^, vast and dread; 
Three times he whirls it round his head, 
While backward bending for the throw — ■ 
Then hurls it with terrific blow: 
Full on the line of spears it flew, 
And clear'd its path their columns through: 
Down spear and spearmen went amain, 
Nor from the floor rose up again; 
Broken beneath the ruin dread 
Around is shattered armor spread. 
Another mighty crag he threw, 
Which full upon a horseman flew, 
And down he went; then strange to tell 
But true, each steed and rider fell 
Prone on tliat floor; with horrid clang 
The fallen mass of armor rang; 
But not one groan nor dying pang 
The hero heard, as swift he sprang 
Upon his foes, with trump and SAvord, 
And mimic men and steeds explored. 

XXVII. 

Onward, through bowers grand and gay. 
Again the twain pursue their way; 



ARTELOISE. 73 

When soon they gain'd a lofty shrine 

Round which did beads unnumbered shine. 

Decked o'er witli crimson, gold and green 

Hioh o'er the shrine a cross was seen; 

And round the altar broad and high 

Hung flowing screen of ever}' d3^e, 

Of every color, hue and shade 

That e'er the looms of nations made 

Which o'er that loftj^ altar threw 

A varied and a blending hue. 

High on a velvet crimson throne, 

Set round with manj' a precious stone 

Of topaz and of diamond sheen, 

The prophet of the place was seen. 

White was his robe as fleec}' snow, 

And white o'er it his beard did flow; 

And past his knees'his beard hung down, 

E'en to the borders of his gown; 

His head was hoar as is the fur 

That hangs from out the thistle's burr, 

And over ej^es as black as night 

His shaggy brows flowed long and white; 

His haughty forehead, high and broad, 

Denoted knowledge 'neath it stored; 

Save Roman nose, no other trace 

For beard was seen of all his face — • 

So dense it grew o'er all its lair, 

It hid features haggard with despair: 

Nor could you tell if joy or woe. 

Or which grim pang we mortal know, 

It was that lit his eyes so bright, 

And gave to them such glaring light: 

Still as the grave he kept his chair, 

And eyed the fast approaching pair. 



74 ARTELOISE. 

XXVIII. 

Before his shrine the twain appeared 
And gazed on him with hoary beard. 
I do believe, tlie knight began. 
That yonder bent and hoary man, 
"Were I to hurl him from his throne, 
We'd find him wax or brass or stone — 
Like all the rest that we have seen, 
Altliough ]iis e^^es look bright and keen 
When e'er on them I cast my view. 
As tlius he spoke, the trump he blew: 
Sent sound terrific, wild and strong- 
Through all those towers broad and long, 
And back were countless echoes thrown 
As if unnumbered trumps were blown; 
Through all those towers rang their sound, 
While sliook the massive walls around. 
From off his throne the pro^Dhet sprang, 

And seized a gleaming sword, 
With voice strong as that trumpet's clang 

Thus sent his voice abroad: 

XXIX. 

Dog of an unbelieving JeVv, 

Whose race of old the Saviour slew — 

AVlio to the cross the Saviour nailed, 

And at His anguish mocked and railed 

And Him with blow and curse assailed, 

His agony with rapture hailed ! 

Thou art the man who, when the crowd 

Bore Christ along, cried to Him aloud: 

Haste, to Thy crucifixion go, 

And on Him dealt thy cruel blow: 



ARTELOISE. ^5 

When thus thou hadst the Savioiu' spurn VI, 

On thee His eye 5 a moment turn'd: 

And said He, Simon, here remain 

Until I shall return again 1 

And here thou hast been since that day, 

And 'till He comes thou here must staj; 

Feared by the young, loathed by the old, 

Ivoam earth like phantom of the wold ; 

On earth thy form no shadow throws, 

And none of rest thy wandering knows. 
Dog of an unbelieving Jew, 
How darest thou come within my view? 
Dost thou not dread once more to feel 
The scalding oil and burning steel, 
And all the pangs that we prepare 
For thy accursed race who dare 
Within these saci'ed towers tread. 
E'en though the}- should be captives led? 
Like all of thy accursed race 
That ever looked upon my face, 
And untold thousands there have gazed 
Since I unto this throne was raised, 
Thy fate shalt be and thou slialt feci 
Pangs which no language can reveal; 
All throes tliat writhe the human form 
Shall fall on tliee in one grim storm. 
Here seven times thou hast appeared, 
Here seven times my presence dared: 
Six times thou hast escaped my Avrath— 
Fled from here by some secret path. 
But this, the seventh, is the last 
My threshold shalt b_y thee be past. 
This time thy grisly doom is seal'd, 



76 ARTELOISE. 

And thou thy cursed life shall yield, 

Thou unbelieving dog of sin. 

At this the hoary guide broke in- 

Thou, Terentius Aulus, whom 

To death would all the Hebrews doom, 

Thou, worst of all thy race and line, 

Though styled the Prophet of the Shrine, 

Thou cursed fiend of cruel Rome, 

True, 'tis the last time here I roam, 

At least, the last time I shall see 

The likeness here of such as thee: 

For it is prophesied of old 

The seventh time I tread this hold, 

I with me the power shall bring 

That shall thy sway to ruin fling; 

That I should break each subtle spell 

That thou hast lured to earth from hell. 

That I through strength of knight renown 'd, 

A hero of the Table Round, 

Should all thy force and fraud o'erthrow 

And cast thy pride forever Ioav, 

Set every pining captive free 

Of every nation held b^^ thee; 

And here I come that deed to do, 

In me thy awful ruin view — 

For those prophesies I'll perform 

In spite of earthquake, flood or storm; 

In spite of all the fraud or force 

Such as thou bringest to bar my course. 

Tliy strongest heroes now are low, 

This good knight wrought their overthrow. 

And none throughout thy towers broad 

Now lives to draw 'gainst me the sword 



ARTELOISE. 77 

But thine old hand, so weak with age 
I fear no strife that it can wage. 

XXX. 

Fell lightning fill'd the Prophet's eye, 
Shot forth like flame from sable sky, 
His form to its full height he rear'd 
And from its sheath his sword he bared; 
Some hasty steps he forward made, 
Then paused, and sheathed again his blade. 
I would, he said, have cleaved th}^ head 
And thy cursed form to dogs have fed, 
But all too easy were such death 
For such as thee: tliy hated breath 
Shall leave thy all accursed frame 
With throes that only hell can tame. 
Thy form shall feel unnumbered pains, 
I'll bind thee down with red-hot chains; 
Of boiling water thou shalt drink, 
Then quaff of molten lead and zinc; 
Thy limbs from thee I'll piecemeal hew 
And thou shalt eat those pieces too; 
Thou'lt have them served in fry and stew, 
A food most fit for cursed Jew. 
Base unbeliever, boasts thou then 
This heio overcame my men. 
That all my giants huge of limb 
And statues terrible and grim, 
Were overthrown b}^ knight renown'd 
From Arthur of the Table Round. 
Why, were the stor}^ eveu true, 
Thou unbelieving, cursed Jew, 
The avenging hordes of mighty Rome 
Would hunt the craven to his home, 



Y8 ARTELOISE. 

Would tear him from King Arthur's hall 

And crush him to an atom small — 

As is the frailest grain of sand 

That yet from earth a tempest fann'd, 

As ever found in any land 

In desert wilds or ocean's strand. 

Think ye, because the menial cre-w 

1 held beneath m}' swa}- ye slew, 

That ye haA'e crush 'd each magic spell 

With which I force of foemen quell ? 

With which I too have guarded long 

From Arthur's hand these towers strong? 

Yes, this last hold in Britain's land 

Of Roman power and command ? 

Rome, the grand mistress of the world, 
Whose banner shall be j-et unfurl'd 

In glorj^, power and might once more 

As erst it was on every shore; 

And teach rebellious nations round 

To tremble Avhen her name tlie}^ sound. 

Hal thought 3'e, when mj' curs ye slew, 

Ye all my pride and might o'erthrew? 

That no reserve at all I held 

By which be such as yc repelled. 

Or into humble captives quellxl ? 

I'll teach you I have yet the force 

To vanquish you and stop 3'our course. 

He ceased, and on a buckler broad 

With force terrific smote his sword; 

The sound from out that clanging shield 

Around like rolling thunders pealed. 

When through the wilds with night o'er spread 

They echo long and deep and dread; 



ARTELOISE. T9 

Through fill the place its deafening clang 

Like din from thousand anvils rang, 

And countless streams of ruddy flame 

Around that shrine terrific came. 

Still louder from that clanging shield 

The deafening sounds of thunder pealed, 

While keener flashed the blinding light 

And dazzled each beholder's sight; 

But hissing flame the twain behold 

Which round that shrine unearthly rolled, 

While awful figures from it came — 

Terrific spectres wrought of flame, 

Which seem surcharged with demon rage, 

And there infernal conflict wage; 

Then swift as thought mount through the air, 

And flaming from the shrine repair, 

Then towards the open windows fly 

And vanish from each gazer's eye. 

Soon ceased the all unearthl}^ sound. 

And died the flame that shrine around; 

Each eager looked, but neither man 

Could anywhere that prophet scan; 

Bnt all the shrine was singed and black. 

Showed plain the flames' destrojing track. 

High o'er the shrine still hung the shield 

From Avhence those sounds of thunder peal'd, 

But no trace did all that shrine afford 

Of the Prophet and his gleaming sword. 



80 ARTELOISE. 



PART III. 



A silence dismal and profonnd 
Settled o'er all those towers round, 
As there those twain surprised, amazed, 
On the scorched shrine together gazed; 
And saw how sudden and how strange 

The Prophet from their gaze withdrew 
As o'er the scenes their visions range 

Tliey scarce believe tlie change they view 
CTpon the shrine the hero strode 

And with his broadsword smote the shicltl; 
Though heav}'' w'as the blow bestowed 

No slightest sound from out it pealed; 
It gave no more of jar or sound 

Than feather smote on fleecy snow. 
Again, again lie smote, but found 

No sound at all for him Avould flow. 
Once more upon the trump he blew 

A blast as loud and deep and long 
As ever yet from trumpet flew 

By breath of mortal hero strong; 
And save the echoes from that blast 

That came from all tlie turrets i*ound, 
'Midst all those vaulted towers vast 

Was heard no other stir nor sound. 
All void of life those towers seem'd, 

No living object in them stirred; 



AETELOISE. 

Though bright o'er them the noon sun beam'tl 

There moved not e'en the sound of bird. 
All within, all without was void 

Of stir or sound as is the tomb, 
And not a zephyr's breath destroyed 

The grave-like rest that there employed 
The banners hung around that room, 

And curtains that hung the casement round 
Where breeze of motion left no trace. 

As if to wake again with sound 
The awful stillness of the place 

Again the mighty horn he blew 
And sent its music far and wide, 

Then forward on their questing di-ew 
That hero and his hoary guide. 

II. 

Through lonely w^a^s, up winding stairs 

Tho twain their path pursued, 
And rooms piled up in lofty tiers 

With searching e^'es they viewed. 
Around where e'er their visions fell 

Gaudy fabrics met their gaze, 
From ceilings and from walls as well 

Like sunset clouds the}^ blaze. 
There it seem'd as if all the wares 

That ever came from looms, 
Silks, satins, velvets and cashmeres, 

Were gathered in those rooms; 
Fabrics of every style e'er wove, 

Of every shade and hue, 
Display- those rooms where e'er they rove, 

Where e'er their eyes pursue. 



82 ARTEI.OISE. 

Yet, A^ainly of living thing they Btrovo 
To find a single clue. 

in. 

Atlength they reached a spacious hall, 

Of snow-white marble was the wall; 

The floor was marble-white as frost, 

Or foam upon the surges tost. 

It seemed so perfect, white and clean 

It never foot of man had seen, 

Nor speck of dust the winds had thrown 

Upon that white and polished stone. 

And over all that spacious floor 

"Were gravened battle-scenes of yore, 

The ceilings and the loftj' walls 

Where e'er the searching vision falls — 

The sculptor's bus}^ hand had wrought, 

And all with scenes of battles fraught; 

Men and steeds seemed starting from the wall, 

Woke to action by the trumpet's call. 

Their armies meet in fierce career 

With lifted shield and levelled spear, 

With mace and club and axe and sword 

They spread their carnage long and broad. 

There heroes seemed to speak and breathe, 

And fiercely there their swords unsheathe, 

There face to face they lifelike stand 

With hilt firm grasped Avithin their hand. 

The armies seem to move along, 

And seems to neigh the charger strong 

And move his nostrils wide, 
And rife the minstrel seems with song 

Amidst the battle tide. 



ARTELOISE. 83 

The stormy trumpets seem to blow, 

The banners seem to wave, 
The archer seems to bendhis bow, 

His mark, a hero brave. 
And here and there a combat grim 

Is on tliat marble seen, 
By monster of enormous limb 

And hero waged between. 
Beneath a hero's sword lies slain 

A dragon huge and dread, 
Cleffc is his grisly form in twain, 

And cleft his horrid head. 
But vainly words could limn the scenes 

Graved on those lofty walls, 
For mortal language has no means 

To paint aright those halls; 
Yes, limn aright each wonderous sight 

The vision meets where e'er it falh. 

IV. 

Long wrapt in pleasing thouglit profound 
The hero viewed the scenes around. 
He A'iewed them all with sti'ange delight, 
For such 'till then ne'er met his sight. 
The sun went down and night apace 
Was brooding o'er that marvellous place, 
Ere from those scenes on marble shown 
The hero's raptured gaze was thrown. 
Then round he viewed those halls so wide. 
But nowhere saw his hoary guide, 
On right, on left he searched the jjlace 
But of his guide he found no trace. 
To blow that trump thrice lie essayed 
But not for him a sound it made, 



84 ARTELOISE. 

In spite of him 'twas void of sound 

As were the marble walls around. 

But through the black and solid gloom 

That there pervaded all that room, 

He then saw a flickering light 

Swift stream upon the folds of night; 

Soon more intense its brightness grew 

'Till light it round like sunshine threw, 

And made the sculptered walls around 

Gleam with a lustre all profound; 

It seem'd that bright and waving glare 

In motion put the armies there, 

And all around that mighty room 

Seemed moving, banner, spear and plume; 

Streamed on the blast the charger's mane 

As high he leaped o'er mounds of slain, 

And motion seem'd o'er all the wall 

And floor, where e'er die gaze might fall. 

But to w^hence had burst that ruddy light 

Swift onward sped the gallant knight. 

V. 

Along a passage bright as day 
In haste the hero made his way; 
Though dazzling brightness round him fell 
Whence came the light he could not tell; 
No trace at all his vision caught 
To show where all that light w^as wrought, 
But where it seemed it keenest burned 
Full on its end the passage turned; 
And here two mighty doors were seen 
Of wonderous length and breadth, I ween. 
Each door was wrought of polislied ore, 
And each a strange inscription bore;. 



ARTELOISE. 85 

Plainly on them the words were scrolled 

And all the letters wrought of gold. 

First that on the left the hero scanned 
I 

While o'er liis eyes he raised his hand, 
To shield them from the blinding glare 
That waving light engendered there. 

INSCRIPTION: 

Pleasure and ease and raptures rare 
Are his who dares to enter here; 
,No toil nor strife shall e'er annoy 
All those who tread this hall of jo}'^; 
No clash of arms nor trumpet's sound 
Shall break its harmony profound. 
Who loves not peace and pleasures rare 
Must dare not think to enter here; 
And those who seek for ancient lore 
Or knowledge of the days of ^'ore, 
Or waste their time in wisdom's bower, 
Here shall not dwell one fleeting hour. 
Only those whom pleasures cannot cloy 
Shall dare to tread this hall of joy ! 
Said the knight, as he read it o'er, 
I there would scroll a line or more: 
That onl}' those should enter here 
Who deem sloth and ease raptures rare; 
Who feel no remorse nor pangs of grief 
For time ill spent though life is brief, 
And glides away from mortal man 
As doth quicksilver from his spar; 
Who ne'er seem to think, for tlie time 
They waste upon this mortal clime, 
The}' must some day a reckoning show 
To Him who did that life bestow. 



80 ARTELOISE. 

Only those who deem sloth no sin 
Should dare that hall to enter in. 
Were I indeed to enter there 
I'd wake with din its atmosphere; 
I'd change the order of all things 
Within it found, queens and kings, 
Beasts and birds with claws or wings, 
Anything that walks, crawls or sprnigs 
That I should meet within that hall 
Should learn to loathe sloth's dismal thrall, 
And see it from his nature spurned. 
This said the knight, and swift he tux'ned 
To read the strange inscription o'er 
That gleamed upon the other door. 
But far less plain its words were scrolled 
And formed of steel instead of gold. 
But polished all as bright were they 
As is the broadsword whet for fray. 
Or was that hero's morion bright 
That flash beneath that waving light, 
And seemed as bright a sheet of flame 
As e'er from blazing furnace came. 
To screen his eyes his mailed hand 
The hero raised while this he scanned: 

inscription: 

Mortal, be thou a fool or knave, 
Or one to whom God wisdom gave, 
Be thou to fear a crouching slave, 
Or yet the bravest of the brave; 
Who would all grimmest dangers dare, 
Whose soul's a fount of virtues rare, 
To enter this dread door beware ! 
Turn back, thyself from dangers spare. 



ARTELOISE. g-^ 

Art thou a hero grand, whose name 
Is written on the rulls of fame ? 
And tliere shall blaze like living flame 
'Till time grows halt and nature lame, 

Whose praise shall glow while shines the sun, 

While breezes blow, or waters run, 

Then keep the honor thou has won 

And these dread halls forever shun. 

Mortal, hast thou a spirit fraught 

With truths the ancient sages taught, 

A spirit all of glory wrought, 

Daring deed and generous thought, 

A soul conceived and born and rear'd 

In temperance and toil, prepared 

'Midst virtues freedom fanned and aired. 

And sunned and for them constant cared; 

And dost thou seek to place thy name 

Eternal on the heights of fame ? 

For it would brave both flood and flame, 

Grim fiends, disease and hunger tame, 

Then open wide this iron door. 
Nor heed thou how its hinges roar, 
Right swiftly pass its threshold o'er 
But back thou canst return no more. 
If strong thy arm and keen thy sword, 
And fear is from th^^ soul ignored, 
Thou'lt burst the grim magician's fraud 
That reigns through all these towers broad. 
Good knight and true, pursue thy course. 
And through this door thy journey force; 
When creaks its hinges harsh and hoarse, 

Twill bring to tyrants grim remorse. 



88 ARTELOISE, 



VI. 



When thrice the hero had read o'er 

The strange inscription on that door, 

Thus to himself he muttered low: 

Let it betide me weal or woe 

I through this door my way must wend, 

Though 'gainst me hell its hosts shall send. 

I'll not turn back nor fear nor quail 

But meet all odds that dare assail; 

I've still gone, let it fail or thrive. 

The way that reason seem'd to drive 

Since first myself I rightly knew, 

And reason bids me now pursue 

This course and pass this doorway through, 

And as she dictates, I shall do. 

In me as one are strength and will, 

And daring courage, nerve and skill. 

Those things alone by me are feared 

Out of which evils may be rear'd, 

My nature doth all sins ignore 

And evils of all kinds abhor, 

No evil unto God nor man 

Shall breathe in all my nature's plan; 

And not a thought shall rise in me 

I should fear God or man to see. 

For this my soul ne'er harbored fear. 

Courage and daring deed are there; 

And ne'er a scene I've yet beheld 

That in the least my courage quelled. 

Though I've faced fire, war and storm, 

And beasts of every size and form 

Alone on mountain and in glen. 

On flood and fever-reeking fen. 



ARTELOISE. ^9 

But no man feels the least of fear 

For dangers cast around him here, 

Whatever land by liim be trod 

Who has abiding faith in God. 

Into this world man comes alone 

A feeble being and unknown, 

A stranger landed on a shore 

Where perils throng his path before, 

Against Avliich he must bravel}^ cope, 

Led on his waj^ by faith and hope; 

So, when he dies he goes alone 

A stranger in a land unknown. 

Through faitli and hope he treads the sphere 

Nor fears what he'll encounter there; 

So through this door I now shall go, 

See what beyond it it doth show, 

Let beasts or demons bar my way 

They shall not hold this arm at bay; 

Nor heroes of gigantic limb, 

Strong as dragons and as grim. 

Dreadful as ever stalked in mail 

Or yet in fray did foe assail, 

Through valor, strength and hope and faith 

I'll quell force of beast, man or wraith, 

No force nor fraud nor hate nor wrath 

Here through this place shall bar my path. 

VII. 

With that his force the hero threw 
Against the door, which open flew, 
While loud through all those halls around 
The grating of its hinges sound, 
Terrific as the earthquake shock 
When it bursts up the solid rock, 



00 ARTELOISE. 

And sends it scattered far &nd wide 

In fragments down the mountain's side. 

With horrid jar and deafening sound 

The door did gainst the wall rebound. 

And scarce he'd past the threshold o'er 

Thau straight again was closed the door, 

And all uu earthly was the jar 

Of swift returning bolt and bar; 

Each to its place like lightning flew 

By hands invisible, which threw 

An iron beam across the door, 

And it into its fastenings bore. 

And in a place to him unknown 

Ouce more that hero stood alone, 

To him it seemed a mightj^ hall, 

But light Avas dead and silent all, 

And vain his eyes the place explored; 

Yet, o'er the floor with his good sword 

He felt his way, and he had strode 

Some thirty paces on his road, 

When to liis lips the trump he drew 

And once again upon it blew; 

But 'twas no longer dead to sound, 

It seut a blast those halls around 

Terrific as old ocean's waves 

Assaulting all their rocky caves. 

When stirring earthquakes move their shore 

And storm fieuds shriek above their roar. 

From turret to foundation stone 

Shook all beneath that trumpet's tone, 

As if a whirlwind tJiere had blown 

And everything in motion thrown 

The walls, the ceilings and the floors; 



ARTELOISE. 91 

And sounds as of a thousand doors 
On noisy, grating hinges hung 
Seemed on a sudden open flung, 
'Gainst walls with force immense they bound 
And shake the place with jarring sound; 
While figures move from room to room. 
And voices whisper through the gloom, 
Tlien closed again the doors are thrown 
And silence there once more is known. 
An awfal silence like the tomb 
Reigned grim o'er all that solid gloom, 
On darkness dread that filled the place 
The hero gazed a moment's space 1 

VIII. 

Now through the place a brightness glows 

And, lo I all unearthly phantoms rose, 

Which in a group together came. 

Their hair seemed waving fonts of flame 

Which cast a fearful light abroad 

And gloom from all that place ignored; 

Still brighter o'er those phantom forms 

Like fire poured by roaring storms, 

The flame rose up a column vast 

As tliat from out volcano cast, , 

While on its top a spirit came 

Which seemed half formed of smoke and flame, 

But all his face from sight was veiled 

By mist and flame that round it sailed, 

In its right hand a skull it bore 

Which ever streamed with reeking gore, 

Which downward pour'd in steady flow 

Upon the heads of those below. 



92 ARTELOISE. 

Which as it touched them burned and hissed 
And formed a cloud of awful mist; 
Did just such sound and sight reveal 
As water poured on burning steel. 
In his left hand a book he held 
Which aye from it the flame repelled, 
Where e'er that book the spectre moved 
The flame to it all harmless proved; 
Far back from it the fire rolled 
As though it there the flame controlled, 
Held it and all its tongues at bay, 
O'er all its force kept boundless sway. 

IX. 

Down o'er that peak of flame enorm 
The spectre leaned his awful form, 
And in the ears of those below 
From him some whispered accents flow; 
Each spectre forward leaned his ear 
As all intent that voice to hear, 
But what he said no single word 
The wonder-stricken hero heard. 
Open that book the spectre threw 
And held it to the other's view, 
Forward he leaned and on it gazed 
With e3^es that red with fur^^ blazed; 
Then seem'd their horrid forms to writhe 
Like serpents 'neath the reaper's scythe, 
And from them burst a wail of woe 
Dreary and weird as blasts that blow 
At midnight o'er the gloomy plain, 
And sigh through the hair of the slain; 
And from them burst this wail of doom 
Which like a storm swept through the room* 



ARTELOISE. 93 

X. 

Lower, dreadful hour, fatal day, 
All our power has past away, 
All, all the arts that Merlin taught 
. This day are unto ruin brought; 
As wizards prophesied of old. 
As in this awful book foretold, 
Here before our ej-es revealed 
Our doom has come, our fate is sealed. 
We perish all by knight renowned, 
A hero of the Table Round, 
And shall we tamely let th:it power fall 
That long has held the world in thrall ? 
Shall we from out this hold be driven 
And all our force to dust be given, 
Ere we with Arthur's knight have striven 
And proved his helm cannot be riven? 
No, by all the powers that dwell 
Throughout the burning realms of hell, 
And those of intramundane air 
While we have life we'll not despair. 
We'll teach the world the force we wield. 
Can cleave asunder helm and shield, 
Can break the spear and rend the sword 
Of any mortal knight or lord. 
Up, up and wage infernal strife, 
Nor tamely fall while we have life. 
But bid our force on mortals storm. 
Loud shrieked the grim, terrific form 
That rose above that fount of flame — 
As far more dread his front became, 
Ten thousand seri)ents breathing fire 
Wreathed around his statue dire, 



94 ARTELOISfi 

Down fell the skull of reeking gore 
On flames below with hissing roar, 
And far and wide its horrid spray 
Flashed round in sparks of blinding ray; 
Down fell the book the spectre held 
With sounds that had all thunder quelled, 
It smote the flame, then swift recoiled 
And rose from out the flame unsoiled, 
Unsinged by flames it rose in space. 
There stood as on some solid base, 
B^^ hand unseen 'twas opened wide 
And writing large and plain espied; 
Slowly leaf by leaf each page was turn'd, 
But ere the hero had discerned 
The import of the Avriting there, 
Dark mists began to All the air; 
Round it rose clouds black as night 
And hid it from the hero's sight; 
But still he heard the pages turned 
Right roughly o'er as they were spurned 
In anger by the spirits there, 
Or force that held that tome in the air; 
But at times 'tis seen thi'ough the night 
Encircled with flashes of light. 
Like the moon in the clouds of the storm 
'Midst paths where the thunders form. 

XI. 

Down from his columns of fire 
Bent forward that spirit in ire. 
The winds lifted his flaming hair 
And spread it on the gloom}^ air 
Like the comet's fiery tail; 



ARTELOISE. 95 

His features were ghastly and pale, 
As seen by the light of that place, 
Horrible and grim was his face; 
Disappointment, terror, despair 
O'er his dread visage made their lau*. 
And light from his terrible eyes 
Was fierce as the flames that arise 
From lips of the crater at night 
Whelming vales with lava and light. 
His nostrils poured vapors of death, 
And pestilence streamed from his breath; 
The serpents that twined round his form 
Had tongues as lightnings of the storm. 

XII. 

He bent forward his towering height 

And lean'd above the wondering knight, 

Lifted on high his flaming spear 

Huge as a pine the mountains rear, 

Bat ere it on the hero came 

Swift as thought or a flash of flame, 

The good knight drew his gleaming sword 

And through it cut a passage broad; 

With deafening sound down fell the spear 

And on the creaking floor found lair, 

Then swifter far than speeds the storm 

He sped upon that awful form, 

And dovn his sword he brought amain 

And lopped the horrid shape in tAvain. 

Grisly sight did that shape reveal — 

To the path of the gleaming steel, 

The form sped shapeless into air 

Like column of mist on marshy lair — 



.96 ARTELOISK 

That the winds drive over the plain, 
And the warm sun dissolves in rain. 

XIII. 

Loud was his shriek of grim despair 
As shapeless he rolled into air, 
Shook all that vast place at the sound, 
As earthquakes were stirring around, 
And all hell was shrieking in wrath: 
As the thunder's ruddy, grim path, 
Seen at night in cloud of the storm, 
Sped the sword through the spectre's form; 
As the lightning's terrible light 
Leaves behind no path to the sight. 
Shows the clouds united in form 
As borne on the car of the storm ; 
So that form no wound did reveal, 
Or retain from the course of the steel, 
As shapeless together it flew 
And far from the hero withdrew, 
Sped forth evermore from his view; 
Grew extinct 'neath night's sable frown 
As the spark when the rocket falls down. 

XIV. 

Sounds had ceased, the spirits had fled, 
Whose flaming hair such brightness had shed, 
Yet, where the}^ stood a blue flame burn'd 
Which from the place the darkness spurn 'd, 
Though round a fitful glare it threw 
That dreary place the knight could view; 
It was a wide, stupendous hall, 
Encircled round with sable wall, 



AUTELOISE. 9*7 

-And on it hung in strange array 

All kinds of armor used in fra^-; 

But all was battered, soiled and worn, 

And of all these of brightness shorn, 

There hung huge bossy iron shields 

Revealing dents from battlefields; 

Cleft helms, and breast-plates, broken spears 

And swords on which thick rust appears 

Huge shirts of mail wrought out of chains, 

Bespattered thick with gory stains; 

Which even time did not deface: 

Ponderous axe and knotty- mace 

By bow and arrow found a place, 

And broken trump and dented horn. 

Did here and there the wall adorn; 

And banners singed by flame and torn 

Right thickly o'er that wall were liung 

With folds o'er broken armor flung; 

And scattered o'er the horrid floor, 

Where e'er the hero's eyes explore, 

Were seen the ghastly bonos of men, 

Strown like the leaves on autumn's fen. 

And over all the ceiling wide 

Were countless mai*ks of fl^fme espied. 

The lofty rafters flames had charred. 

Its beams had wasting fires scarred, 

The roof had holes where flames had burn'd 

And through them were the stars discern 'd. 

XV. 

As round the hero's glances range 
On scenes of desolation strange, 
Scenes all as dreary and as grim 
As e'er before were seen by him, 



98 ARTELOISE. 

He saw a small white hand repair 
To ■where that book hung poised in air, 
Swift down towards him the tome it bore 
And opened it his eyes before. 
Plain was the writing, bold and large, 
And written o'er from marge to marge; 
Swift down o'er it his glances ran^e 
Until he meets this passage strange: 
Thrice blessed is he of mortal seed 
Who from this Avonderous book shall read 
Blessed is that child of mortal birth, 
And favored of all sons of earth; 
The whole wide world shall sound his fame, 
And lasting honors robe his name, 
Through countless ages sire to son 
Shall tell his deeds of glory won. 
He shall triumphant sweep along 
The course of time, the theme of song. 
And bards shall win immortal fame 
Rehearsing glories of his name; 
But he who in this book doth read 
No easy, slothful life shall lead, 
No nights of sleep, no days of rest. 
No thoughts of i?ase must dull the zest 
For glory throbbing in his breast. 
He must all toils and dangers meet 
And never dream of foul retreat. 
Pleasures and rest are not for him, 
But days and nights of perils grim. 
'Gainst fiend and demon he must cope 
By strength of arm and faith and hope, 
And when he has to ruin hurled 
The demons that annoy the world, 



ARTELOISE. 

His recompense shall be a crown 
Of priceless, immortal renown; 
Upon the tallest cliffs of fame 
The world shall ever keep his name; 
There it shall shine the most sublime 
Through all the change and wreck of time, 
Like sound upon the torrent's fall 
That thunders o'er its granite tall, 
Ilis name upon the world's vast tongue 
Shall ever more be praised and sung; 
And what's life to knight without fame, 
Without placing in stor}^ his name ? 
And to live on renowned in song 
He must learn to suffer and be strong; 
Thou art the first of mortal man 
Who ever dared this book to scan, 
And art the sole one of his race 
Who e'er his e^-es on it shall place; 
So blest, thrice blest, of mortal seed, 
Go, thou, and peril daring deed, 
f Before thee lies both wealth and fame. 
Behind thee perjury and shame 1 
Pass on, you soon will reach a hall 
Where speechless captives dwell in thrali. 
And there in bondage tUe}^ shall be 
'Till Knight of Arthur sets them free. 
Take up the skull the demon held 
And which from it the flame repelled, 
It now is full of dragon's gore. 
So full that it is brimming o'er. 
And bear it with thee to that hall. 
Nor let from it an atom fall, 



99 



100 ARTELOISE. 

There pour it on a flame that bums 
Of yellow hue, 'till white it turns, 
And thou shalt set from bondage free 
Maids fair as ever man shall see; 
Speed on thj wa}-, temptation shun, 
Lest thoa should st ever be undone, 
And thou be proven frail as sand. 

XVI. 

When this he read the small white hand 
Straight closed the book and high in air 
Did with it from the knight repair, 
J3ut placed it where the hero's eye 
Oould it amidst the gloom descry. 
Down leaned the knight and from the floor 
He lifted up the skull of gore, 
And it upon his journey bore. 
O'er whitened bones that round him lay 
Tlie eager knight pursued his way. 
And as with cautious step and slow 
He moved, he sang in accent low: 
Man's deeds must ever clothe him still 
With immortality, good or ill. 
They make him glorious, sublime, 
Or loathsome, reeking grim with crime, 
Who for earth's highest sphere was born 
Must hold her evils all in scorn. 
He who seeks Heaven's help to win 
Must first himself his task begin, 
A happ3^ man earth never knew 
Save he who was to nature true. 
A good man has no fear of death, 
No dread of parting with his breath; 



ARTELUISE. lOi 

To him death is a darksome road 
Leading from out a lone abode 
Into those realms of perfect day 
Where only God himself holds sway, 
Where all is action, life and bliss, 
And naught can ever move amiss, 
And linowing all tliese truths sul)lime, 
I stand above the wreck of time, 
Fear nothing wliile I breathe this breath, 
And naught beyond the A'ale of deatlu 
M}^ guide perhaps has me betrayed 
Into some fearful ambuscade, 
If this be so, I'll teach the knave 
That I its force unflinching brave; 
Though fearful odds he 'gainst me cast 
I'll face them as the oak the blast, 
That breaks all storms, however grim 
They smite upon its bole and limb — 
Tliat king-lilie rears its structure tall, 
While round it trees unnumbered fall; 
Thougli wrecked are forests far and wide, 
It stands erect in lordl}' pride. 
But I'll assault this den of crime 
With force and energy sublime, 
As of storms impetuous and dread 
From out conflicting vapors bred, 
Grim witli their thunder, flame and hail, 
That in their might the groves assail. 
Break their limbs, hurl them to the ground. 
And spread them far and wide around; 
Then onward passing to tlie plain 
Up proudly sweeps the dust amain, 



102 ARTELOISE. 

And liowling darkness spreads on high, 
While from it beasts and mortals flj-. 
From highest roof to lowest base 
I'll search through all this ghastly place, 
For God "will not forbid the deed. 
And man and fiends I do not heed. 

XVIT. 

Thus thought the knight as on he sped 
Through halls and chambers lone and dreadi 
Where dismal silence reigned around 
As ever in the world was found; 
Through lonely, winding colonnades, 
Where gloomy stillness all perA'ades, 
The eager knight his way pursued, 
Nor breathing mortal thing he view'd; 
But still high in air before him, 
Amidst the gloom however dim, 
Fe saw the wonderous book proceed 
And follow where it seemed to lead. 
Guided by it at length he turns 
Upon a path where he discerns 
A flame that burns of ^^elloA^ hue 
Which round a blinding brightness threw; 
Within a lofty hall it glowed 
And its vast space in splendor showed, 
Through all the hall so wide and broad 
All things save splendor were ignored; 
Gaud was the sole thing there beheld, 
All else was from that place repelled. 
Its flashing gaud to shame might bring 
Bridal chamber of an Eastern King; 



ARTELOISE. 103 

O'er all its ceilings and its walls 

TVhere e'er the hero's vision falls, 

"Were blazoned, gorgeous and grand 

As ever limned by painter's hand: 

The spoi'ting n3'mphs of dale and hill^ 

Some bathing in a crjstal rill. 

Life-like through jielding floods they swim, 

And through it stretch each glowing limb; 

The flood rolls o'er their outstretch'd arms. 

And laves, but hides none of their charms; 

Some leading fawns o'er mossy green. 

Some resting in their caves are seen, 

But no robes o'er them the eye assailed, 

Each breathed with beauties all unveiled; 

O'er their white shoulders stream their hair 

Or float upon the fanning air. 

Hung canvas' o'er those walls unrolled 

On which were limned the loves of old. 

There in stately bower or hall 

By flowing stream or torrent's fall, 

In shady grove or grottoes green 

The all enamored pairs are seen. 

Each with warm lips to love resigned 

Meet in their longing arms entwined, 

As lip to lip each lover turned 

They showed the flame that in them burned. 

Some meet tlitir wanton lover's glance 

And kiss wdth bashful eyes askance; 

But sought not in the least to veil 

The warmth that doth their breast assail, 

Though sun and moon and earth should fall, 

And ruin wreck the planets all, 



J 04 ARTELOISE. 

Tliey would not fail that lip to taste 
And feel that arm around their waist, 
And hot breath on their blushing face, 
Nor shun thac amorous embrace. 

XVIII. 

From scenes like these the hero turn'd 
His eye, for such his spirit spurn'd, 
Around the hall his gaze he threw, 
Where greater wonders met his view: 
The floor where e'er his vision roll'd 
Seem'd pav'd with solid, burnished gold, 
And o'er that floor all ranged arow 
Were gorgeous couches seen, and show 
On each a female form as fair 
As ever breathed of mortal air; 
Each is arrajed in nature's robe 
Decked with all charms from beauties 'globe 
Each form each glowing charm assumes 
That in the realm of beauty blooms; 
On crimson pillow lay each head. 
And on quilts of blue, green and red 
Their snow-white stirless limbs were spread 
All helpless on the gaudy bed. 
But one there was among them there 
Than all the others far more fair, 
Tied round her form with studs of gold 
Lay a thin gauze of many a fold, 
Scarce hides the robe her bosom's snow, 
Her ample breasts gieam'd white below, 
The fanning airs the robes wav'd wide, 
And ceased the swan-like neck to hide; 



ARTELOl&E. 105 

And that fair form when breezes blew 
The faithless robe betrayed to view, 
Left that form superb, divinely fair, 
Without a robe save balmy air; 
O'er her fair cheeks her tresses rolled 
In heavy folds, the hue of gold, 
Spread o'er the cheeks so w^hite below 
They seemed like sunshine cast on snow; 
Round was her arm and white as foam 
When storms above the billows' roam. 
Her small, white, perfect hands were fair — 
As ever did a beauty heir, 
Fairer hands earth ne'er rear'd before. 
Though no glittering gems they wore. 

XIX. 

Down o'er her head the hero leaned 
And gentl}' moved the locks that screened 
Nigh all her beauteous face from view, 
But as from there those locks he drew 
A sudden tremor shook his form 
And heaved his breast like wave in storm. 
Backward he drew in dread surprise 
And on those features fix'd his ej-es; 
Gazed on that brow and lovely face 
Wrought with all angel air and grace, 
Viewed those lialf-open ruhy lips 
Sweet as the rose that morn's dew sips, 
That showed their rows of pearls below 
With hue the shade of driven snow. 
Scarce sign of life the form revealed. 
And closely were her ej^elids sealed, 
And seem'd she had no more of breath 
Than one upon the couch of death. 



106 ARTELOISE. 

Save color that her red lips bore 
No other sign of life she wore — 
Did nothing else of life reveal. 

XX. 

Swift doffed the knight his glove of steel, 

And with his bare and brawny hand 

He felt that brow and features grand, 

But all was warm as life; no death 

Was there, although she breathed no breath. 

As shakes the rose in summer storm 

The hero shook that lovely form, 

But no sign of life in her stirred, 

No move, no breath, no groan, no word. 

There lay his love in slumber deep: 

Clotilda, in enchanted sleep, 

Yea, she the glory of his soul, 

The idol of his heart — the goal 

For which he deathless glory sought. 

And for it through all perils wrought, 

Thai he with his might place her name 

Eternal on the throne of fame. 

The maid who but three dajs before 

He'd left in Arthur's halls secure 

From every danger, foe or pain. 

While blood flowed warmin Arthur's vein. 

Was it all but a maddened dream 

Such as doth to a drunkard seem. 

When he lies in the mud supine 

O'erwhelmed with reeking fumes of wine, 

And grim nightmares, dread ful and strange. 

With thunder sound and lightning change, 

Oppress his breast and through him range ? 



ARTELOISE„ " 107 

XXI. 

Was it a dream ? or did he see 

Clotilda in reality ? 

Was that the angel form and face, 

The paragon of beauty, grace, 

The fairest maid since birth of time 

Has ever trod this mortal clime; 

The kindest heart and purest soul 

Through which did ever feelings roll, 

The mind throughwhich no thought did flow 

But Avhat the whole vast world mighl know, 

For all was pure within its sphere. 

And naught it felt was hidden there; 

'Twas pure as is the crystal rill 

That flows 'neath sunshine down the hill, 

That sends forth life to bloomj' sprj,>- 

That bends in arches o'er its way. 

Was this the maid ? How came she there ? 

What force ? what fraud ? what cunning snare 

Had brought her 'neath the wizard's tlirall, 

To lie in that enchanted hall ? 

Were thoughts that all his soul pervade 

As there he viewed the sleeping maid 

XXII. 

And as he gazed a sense of sleep 
He felt all o'er his nature creep; 
A drowsy mist oppressed his brain. 
Slow moved the blood in every vein. 
As if by bolt of lightning spurned 
From off the maid his gaze he turned 
To where the flame of yellow burned, 
And towards it swift as thought he bore 
The grinning skull of dragon's gore. 



108 ARTELOISB. 

Right In tne centre of the hall 
Stream Yl from a pit in column tall 
That fount of flame of yellow hue, 
Wliich light intense around it threw; 
High o'er the glowing fount of flame 
The skull and hand of hero came, 
A moment's space they o'er it soared 
Then full on it the blood was poured. 
From out the skull the crimson flowed 
And no diminished stream it showed; 
Though hovirs past before the flame 
From yellow unto white became, 
Yet still that skull was full of blood, 
Gave forth a never-ending flood; 
'Twas fed from some mysterious source, 
And flowed with nnabating force. 

XXIII. 

Dreadful and harsh the fire roar'd 
As on its flame the blood was poured, 
The sparks terrific flew apace 
And scattered vast o'er all the place, 
As from the cloud the flakes of snow 
Descend and hide the fields below; 
Then spread around in shapeless drifts 
* Where over them the tempest shifts; 

Fast to the limbs of trees they cling, 
And form a crust o'er everything; 
So from that flame 'midst deafening sound 
The sparks flew over all the ground, 
'Till all the place around became 
The color of that roaring flame, 
And glowed around tliat spark-strown floor 
Like furnace filled with molten ore. 



ARTELOISE. J^Qjj 



XXIV. 



All sudden and swift as the hue 

Of a pnre vegetable blue 

To a green or a red doth change 

When there alkalies or acids range, 

So suddeii, so swift and so strange 

The 3^ellow flames to whiteness turned 

And with increasing fury burned. 

From floor to ceiling shot the flame 

And soon the roof a blaze became, 

The rafters in a moment's space 

Were wrapped within the flames' embrace, 

And all the hall around, o'er head 

Were cast in conflagration dread. 

The iron columns vast and tall 

Tliat propped the roof of that vast hall, 

The iron beams and girders all 

That spannVl the place from wall to wall. 

Began to drop in atoms small 

Like icicle 'neath sunshine's thrall. 

Full on the roaring fount of flame 

That hero could not quell or tame. 

The reeking skull of gore he threw 

And from the blinding flame withdrew; 

A.nd on the sleeping mortals there 

He gazed in anguish and despair. 

They stirred not from their slumber deep, 

Did still their death-like silence keep; 

To leave them there an hour more 

Their race on earth would then be o'er, 

Yet, he had strove with all his main 

To rouse them, but had toiled in vain. 



110 ARTELOISE. 

They slept as rigid and as still 

As those Avho do theii* coffins fill. 

God of my soul; the hero cried 

With voice that shook those towers wide; 

Must I behold Clotilda's death 

Amidst those flames of stifling breath ? 

God of all ! grant Thou m^^ arm 

The force to save her from all harm; 

To save her from all pain and dole 

Alike of body and of soul. 

Grant me the strength this awful hour 

To burst the wizard's cursed power, 

And rouse them from their slumbers dread 

Or bear them from these embers red, 

For nothing in this world is wrought 

That is Avith lasting glory fraught. 

Be it of body or of thought, 

If Thy aid by mortal is not sought 

And ever in the action brought; 

Yes, all without Thee comes to naught ! 

XXV. 

As spoke the knight, an awful sound 
Shook earth and air, and all around; 
A blast cold as the storms that freeze 
The waters of the Polar seas 
Poured round, and in a moment's space 
Fill'd up complete that burning place; 
A moment more, that frozen air 
Expands by heat engendered there — 
With force terrific outward throw 
The walls that there with fire glow, 
With sounds immense to earth are thrown 
And into smallest atoms blown; 



ARTELOTSE. Ill 

High up the flaming roof it whirled, 

And it far down the mountain hurled, 

Scattered like dust before the blast 

And o'er the land ii> fragments cast. 

And leave the silent sleepers there 

A canop3' of sky and air. 

Dread in the sky the thunders roll. 

And clouds spread round from pole to pole; 

Like awful battlements and towers 

The dark'ning sky witli tempests lowers. 

Deep and more deep the darkness grows 

The cloudland o'er the heaven throws — 

'Till over all its vast domains 

An inky, pitchy blackness reigns, 

And all the startled world around 

Is wi-apt in storm and night profound; 

Witli sudden dash a whelming rain 

The clouds pour to the earth amain, 

On flames the hero could not quell 

The pouring floods a deluge fell. 

And dashing puured on those as well 

Who slept beneath the wizard's spell. 

Down mountain, valley, wold and plain 

In rivers rushed the flooding rain. 

And far away o'er boulders tall 

Was heard the roaring water-fall, 

As off it swept to valleys drear 

That lay amongst those mountains there, 

Whose forests vast the driving storm 

Did all in wild confusion form. 

And made their limbs together clash 

With sounds above the thunder's crash. 



112 ARTELOISE. 

And stirs the eagle from his nest 
That towers o'er the monntain's crest, 
He flaps his wings and rears his form 
High on the pinions of the storm, 
Darts where the thunders roll most loud 
And drinks the flood within the cloud; 
Screams with his deepest, wildest mirth 
As he beholds the lightning's birth; 
And proudly rears his mighty form 
Beside the spirit of the storm; 
Delighted mounts his roaring car 
Where lightnings flash and thunders jar. 



PART IV. 



A tower of stupendous size 

The hero through the tempest ej^es, 

From its broad door- way came a light 

That fiercely cleft the inky nighty 

Sent its long shaft of lustre forth 

Like flaming streamer of the North; 

And o'er battlement and tower 

Cast its majesty and power — 

Like conqueror sits on its throne 

And guilds the night with blazing zone. 

To this broad door-way strode the knight, 

A spacious hall there met his sight, 

The hero o'er the threshold strode 

And entered swift the strange abode. 



ARTELOISE. 113 

A gaud and splendor filled the place 

From wall to wall through all its space, 

A thousand times more grand and fair 

Than seen in all those towers there 

Through whicli that knight 'till then had past, 

Though arrayed were some in splendor vast; 

Scarce his wondering eyes behold 

The gaudy splendors round him roll'd, 

That dazzling flash before his gaze 

Filling him with surprise, amaze; 

When hark! he hears a gentle sound, 

And soothing music floats around. 

From room to room the music trilled, 

With melody the region filled, 

With harmony the walls around 

And ceilings echo back the sound; 

Through loft^^ arcli and nave and dome 

The flooding strains of music roam 

'Till together all the blending notes 

In one grand diapason floats. 

While through the hero's sense they roll 

And lull from toil his hardy soul, 

He sees approaching from a hall 

Swift through a door-wa}' wide and tall 

A maid form'd divine, of angel face, 

By nature crown'd with every grace 

Eyes dark a3 nature saw 'till now 

Flashed bright beneath their arching brow; 

Her sable tresses loosely flow 

Down o'er a bosom wliite as snow; 

Her arms were bare, her shoulders too, 

For all the fanning winds to woo; 



114 ARTELOISE. 

Her ankles bare, revealed to sight 

A skill as northern snow drifts white, 

Her milk-hued feet no sandles wore, 

And light as air they touched the floor. 

A huntress seem'd the lovely maid, 

Or some bright nj^mph of wold or glade; 

A quiver her fair shoulders bore 

Which held of arrows goodl}'^ store, 

A polished bow of wondrous length, 

Of twisted wood and matchless strength, 

As lightly held she in her grasp 

Though did slie but a feather clasp; 

Though but a maid of fragile form 

She'd strength and fleetness of the storm. 

Her nature was as void of fear 

As any oak the mountains rear; 

Her soul as generous and bold 

As any cased in human mould; 

Yet had she just as fix'd a will 

As e'er svva3'ed man for good or ill. 

Griselda was the name she bore, 

And was daughter of King Tellemore, 

Swift towards the knight came on the maid 

Sweet as a sunbeam through a glade; 

Close to the knight the maiden drew 

Where he could all her beauty view, 

And with a voice as soft and sweet 

As 3'et did ear of mortal greet. 

She thus King Arthur's knight did meet: 

II. 

Welcome to these halls, gallant knight, 
Thou soul of courage, arm of might; 



ARTELOISE. 115 

The whole wide earth resounds thy name, 

Thou hero of immortal fame; 

Champion of the weak and lone 

Th}' succor kind htne thousands known; 

Thou art the frail ones' sword and shield 

In halls of jo}'^ or battle-field; 

Yainly no mortal sought thine aid 

B3' day nor night, no man nor maid. 

To-night there is a mighty deed 

That thou must do, perform with speed. 

This is the night foretold of 3'ore 

B}' Merlin's craft and Merlin's lore, 

A valiant knight of Arthur's train. 

Whom Merlin christened Beau de Main, 

Should sla}'^ the dragon of the glen 

And bring the treasure from his den, 

Though that vast hoard of treasure bright 

Has there been hid from human sight. — 

Through all their joj^s, their hopes and fears 

For just two thousand fleeting 3'ears; 

And it is prophesied of 3'ore 

That when this dragon's life is o'er, 

All wizard's charms shall be destro3'ed, 

And all their force made null and void 

Hound the towers of Arteloise; 

Still'd ever as the serpent's noise 

The stalwart plowman treads to death 

That no more coils or breathes a breath. 

• 

When this is done Clotilda's sleep 
Shall waken from its slumbers deep. 
At earl3r dawn, ere any star 
Has paled before Aurora's car, 



116 ARTELOISE. 

That dragon shall be slain b}' thee, 

Clotilda rise, of slumber free, 

And we gain all the mighty hoard 

That's in the dragon's cavern stored. 

So come with me, thou valiant knight; 

Through storm and gloom I'll guide thee right; 

Yea, lead thee on the safest path 

So thou mayst quell the dragon's wrath. 

III. 

Forth from those wide and loft}^ halls 
Where light on blazing splendor falls, 
And music with its sweetest notes 
In ceaseless diapason floats, 
The hero and his lovely guide 
Through storms descend a mountain side, 
Where flooding rains to torrents flow 
And roar throughout the vale below. 
Right at the lofty mountain's base 
Within a dark and lonesome place. 
Stood still that hero and his guide; 
Soon on the mountain's shaggy side 
Within a cavern gaping wide, 
A horrid light the twain espied; 
And in that cavern vast and dread 
Was seen a grisl^^ dragon spread, 
From his huge mouth a roaring came 
And horrid blasts of smoke and flame; 
His awful fangs Avere red with gore 
And blood was dashed his bodj' o'er. 
Huge was the beast in breadth and length 
And seem'd of more than mortal strength, 
A huger form and vaster limb, 
A beast more horrible and grim — 



ARTELOISE. 1]7 

, With fiercer look and feller jaws 
And stronger thews and longer claws, 
And eye-balls of more hellish glow 
That did dread lightnings from them tlirow, 
Tlirough all his sights on hill and glen 
That hero ne'er had seen 'till then. 
Limbs had the monster, dread and long, 
And arm'd with weapons grim and strong. 
'Twas said the monster drew his birth 
From fiend of hell and ghoul of earth. 
Whose souls were full of evil deeds 
As is a tropic moor witli weeds; 
Monsters were botli, terrific, grim, 
Of all infernal form and limb. 
That dwelt upon a slimj^ lair 
'Midst caves of intramundane air. 
From these this horrid dragon sprung, 
And while the beast immense was 3'oung 
A Titan brought him to this glen 
To guard tlie treasure of his den; 
To guard the hoard through weal or woe 
'Till time two thousand j^ears should sow 
Nor let 'till then tlie eye of man 
The boundless pile of treasure scan, 
And not 'till one of mortal breath 
Had stretched it still in grisly death; 
One sprung from man and woman's seed 
111 time to come sliould do the deed. 
And only he should win the hoard, 
Yes, only he, that there is stored. 

IV. 

While there the knight the monster eyed 
And viewed t'.ie reeking cavern Avide, 



1 18 ARTEIOISE. 

And saw the task that fate had willed 
Should by his prowess be fulfdled, 
Secret to Him his thoughts he raised 
Who all his life he'd loved and praised. 
Lord, divine, make me to-night 
The victor in this coming fight; 
Let me yon grisly monster slay 
And crush on earth all wizard's sway. 
Thus secret prayed King Arthur's knight 
And rushed to meet the beast in fight. 

V. 

Roused by the good knight's stalwart tread 
On rocks that round that cavern spread, 
And sounds that from his armor rang, 
From off his lair the dragon sprang; 
High up his horrid head he rears 
And pricks aloft his shaggy ears, 
For full before liis e3'e-bairs sight 
He sees King Arthur's armed knight. 
And with a roar of horrid sound 
That even shook the hills around, 
Full on tlie knight the dragon came 
Forth belching dread his founts of flame. 
But ne'er that knight had met before 
Through all his thousand frays of yore, 
A foe with form so grim and long, 
And limbs so terrible and strong; 
Nor force of such terrific ire, 
Kor breath of such consuming fii'e. 
High up his seven-fold shield he bore 
The dragon's flaming mouth before; 
While there the spacious targe he held 
And from his form the flame repell'd, 



ARTELOISE. Il9 

Down on the dragon's head he brought 
His flaming sword more swift tlian tliought, 
Swift as electric currents speed 
The hero's broadswoi'd did tlae deed. 
A liorrid wound tlie weapon made, 
The dragon's ear wide open laid, 
And fast from it the reeking blood 
Poured to the earth a dark red flood; 
Roused by the wound to fiercer wrath. 
And swift as light darts on its path, 
The dragon reared its might}^ paws 
And on the knight descends its claws; 
His seven-fold shield receives the blow 
And weight enormous of the foe. 
High o'er the knight the monster rear'd 
Its horrid head with eyes that glared 
A light as awful and as dread 
As yet a beast or demon shed; 
And fast his claws upon the knight 
Descending show their ponderous might; 
Fast, hard the}-- on the hero light 
And "gainst him wage terrific fight; 
While thus in dreadful close they strove, 
The knight his targe impetuous drove 
Against the dragon's braAvny breast 
Whose hide with horn}^ scales was drest; 
And deep in it to floods of gore 
The shining boss its passage tore. 
Through steely scales and horny hide — 
Bones, thews, that mortal steel defied, 
It tore its passage deep and Avide. 
Then high up the horrid beast he held, 
And thus from him its mouth repell'd, 



120 ARTELOISE. 

From whence grim flame eternal sailed; 
And while the beast was thus impaled, 
All o'er its form and grisly throat 
The good knight's sword terrific smote. 
Though here and there right oft his blade 
Dread wounds o'er all the monster made, 
Yet still it seem'd that dragon grim 
More stronger wax'd in form and limb, 
While seem'd weaker grew the gallant knight 
Before that fierce, unequal fight — 
That monster's superhuman might. 

VI. 

From side to side, aroimd, around, 

Through all that cavern's ample bound 

The knight and beast with growing rage 

Their all uneai'thly combat wage. 

They part and breathe, then meet apace. 

And battle dread through all the place; 

His sword the good knight wields amain, 

Blows on the beast eternal rain. 

The cave through all its vast domain 

Is redden 'd with a gory stain; 

O'er all the floor and walls around , 

The dragon's wasted gore is found; 

From him it flows in torrents large 

And stains the hero's mail and targe. 

Sudden as ever flash of light 

Sped from the tempest cloud at night, 

The dragon from the hero flew 

'Till wide the space between them grew; 

Where lay huge rocks he hastened hence 

And in his paws with force immense 



ARTELOISE. 121 

High o'er his head those rocks he twirled 

And them full on the hero hurled; 

And as he caught them on his shield 

The blows like distant thunders peal'd. 

And as the rocks the monster threw 

More dread his founts of fire grew, 

From out his horrid mouth they flew 

Horrid and vast as ever flame 

From out a roaring furnace came, 

And full upon the gallant knight 

They rush with all their heat and might. 

Forth from the cave the hero flew 

While at his heels the dragon drew; 

Soon on the mountain's craggj- side 

A fallen tree the knight espied, 

All void of limbs and huge and long, 

Well pointed, dried and tough and strong. 

This in his hands the hero caught 

And it right o'er the dragon brought; 

Right to its mouth of roaring flame 

The keen, sharp-pointed timber came, 

Then down that gulf of flame with force 

Immense that timber took its course. 

Down mouth and throat the good knight drove 

The mighty' spear, while grimly strove 

Tiiat grim, infernal monster there 

To break free of the mighty spear; 

Which ever wa}^ he turn'd or strove 

The spear the knight still deeper drove, 

Still held the monster on his lair 

And saAv his eye-balls fiercer glare; 

With growing pain and fell despair 

Their sheen illumes the sable air; 



122 ARTELOISE. 

A horrid light on darkness throws 
Wliicli unto all grini hues bestows. 

VII. 

Ill dim those ej'e-balls' savage glow 
And aid thee quell thy grisly foe, 
For ne'er did fate on man bestow 
A fiercer one to ovei'throw. 
Thus to the knight Griselda spake, 
And straight she did an arrow take. 
Swift as a flash she bent her bow 
And in an eye-ball's horrid glow 
Iler hissing shaft its entrance made, 
Did grim its source of light invade. 
Out gushed in streams the riven orb 
And earth did swift its light absorb. 
Again her twanging bow she bent 
In other orb a shaft she sent, ' 
Deep to the source of light it went 
And ghastl}'^ was its structure rent; 
Out oozed amain the flowing light, 
Streamed on the earth to sable night; 
All trace of light those shafts destroyed, 
Left in each place a darksome void; 
But still grim founts of roaring flame 
It seem'd no mortal force could tame 
From huge jaws of the monster came 
And seem'd to stronger wax his frame; 
Dread and more dread boiled forth his rage, 
And grimmer did the knight engage. 
Still hotter did the battle wage. 
In strife more dreadful grew and sage. 
Round the wide cave it turns or flies, 
Then sudden back to battle hies. 



ARTELOISE. 123 

Yet still the knight pursued its path 

With equal strength and equal wrath; 

At bay his horrid foe he held 

And from him all its Llows repell'd; 

Deep that tough hide of horny scales 

Incessant his good sword assails. 

At length b}'- fate decreed ho found 

A vital spot for him to wound; 

There swift with his good sword he smote, 

Cut grim and wide the dragon's throat; 

Again, again his good sword sped 

'Till it lopped otf the monster's head, 

Then gushed o'er all that cavern's floor 

A torrent grim of reeking gore. 

Yet from the monster roared a sound 

Like ocean's wrath on rocky ground. 

Forth from the cave the hero sped 

And bore along the dragon's head, 

Fierce twirled it b}- its tawny hair 

Then cast it forth on 3'ielding air, 

In a deep vale of rocky ground 

1 1 roaring fell with horrid sound; 

From rock to rock the sightless head 

AVhose orbs had late such horror sh^d, 

O'er giddy heights down mountains sped 

With sounds infernal, grim and dread. 

VIII. 

Again, again Griselda's bow 
Did arrow in the carcass throw; 
Soon the headless, quivering trunk 
Though deep in its own lifeblood sunk, 
l>ristled with spears like harvest plain 
Where late the reapers garnered grain. 



124 ARTELOISE. 

Yet still Griselda's bow did twang, 
Through air her hissing arrows rang, 
Until within the monster's heart 
With force terrific sped a dart; 
Then vath a groan of grim despair 
That shook the liills and startled air, 
The monster 3'ields his flaming breath 
To silince, darkness and to death. 
But least in it should be some life 
And it should rise again to strife, 
The knight drives deep his sword amain 
And cut the carcass all in twain. 
Piece-meal from the cave he drags its form 
And casts it to the night and storm. 
Hurls it far down the mountain side 
Where once it stalked in lordly pride, 
With horrid fangs and scalj^ hide 
And all the might of man defied; 
And for two thousand wear}- years 
Without one throe of mortal fears. 
Had guarded safe enormous hoard 
That was within that cavern stored, 
B}' Titan kings piled there of old. 
By wizards and by giants bold, 
Who for it ravaged, scourged the world. 
And here in heaps their booty hurl'd. 
Yes, here enormous jdI under piled 
Vast as o'er which has mortal smiled, 
Since first the love of gold began 
To hold its swa}^ in breast of man; 
And here it lay, so fate decreed. 
Until a knight of daring deed — 



ARTELOISE. 125 

Whose soul was free of sin and crime 
And every evil known to time, 
Should by his strength and prowess slay 
The beast tliat watclied it niglit and day; 
But filled must be his soul with seeds 
That only grow immortal deeds, 
Who shall the mighty beast o'erthrow, 
And to that hoard of treasure go. 

IX. 

The task was done, the beast was slain, 
His lifeblood did the cavern stain, 
And all around o'er hill and plain 
Did universal darkness reign. 
And still the rain in steady pour 
Fell down 'midst storm's incessant roar: 
At times was heard a hooting owl, 
And distant fox and mastiff's howl; 
While near that deep and darksome cave 
Stood still the maid and hero brave, 
When lo., they heard a mj'stic noise 
And flashed strange lights round Arteloise; 
The hills beneath them seemed to quake, 
And seem'd strange voices from them spake, 
Louder than e'er volcano spoke 
The blending voices round them broke; 
And all confused the accents rung. 
But what was said was in the tongue 
And language of some unknown land, 
Nor knight nor maid could understand. 
The voices still'd, a moment's calm 
Hung over all like holy balm; 
Then sudden from the mountain's side 
And all the valley far aud wide, 



126 AETELOISE. 

Shot xip unnumbered lights of blue 
And every known and fancied hue. 
Straight all things round began to change 
And into other forms arrange; 
Where gloomy fens and jungles stood, 
And rocks o'ergrown with knotted wood, 
Like magic past awaj^ from sight 
And left a landscape pleasing, bright; 
Each dread wizard's power and spell 
That fiends -had brought to earth from hell, 
That long had ruled those hills and dell^ — 
Down, down with jars terrific fell, 
Was straight to utter ruin hurl'd 
And banished from the startled world; 
The storm that instant past away 
And peace once more assumed its sway. 
The stars pour down their steadfast ray, 
While over all the moonbeams play, 
From zenith to the earth below 
Her all unclouded glories flow^; 
And over all that earth can show 
Her flooding lights of splendor glow. 
The hills, the vale and rippling stream 
Yv'"ith dazzling light beneath her gleam; 
Breathes o'er the land a baln\y breeze 
Which gentl}^ stirs the heads of trees. 
And o'er their rain-wet, moving leaves 
Her light a robe of silver weaves; 
Violets breathe from their moon-lit lair, 
And with sweet odors load the air, 
Roses and shrubs and lilies pale. 
And all flowers of hill or dale, 



ARTELOISE. 127 

Of mountain, plain, or wokl, or vale, 

With fragrance there the air assail; 

And over all a glory fell 

That whispered like a passing knell, 

Which atom seem'd to atom tell 

Now man had burst the wizard's spell, 

Their force did seed of woman quell, 

So joyed was earth and grieved was hell. 

X. 

Charmed with this sylvan scene around 
That pleased at every sight and sound, 
Griselda and the daring knight 
With rapture viewed the landscape bright. 
A crystal strisam with pearly glow 
That run o'er pebbles white as snow, 
Did close beside them babbling flow 
And murmured on to A^alcs below. 
Where shrubs and flowers formed an arch 
AboA'e the waters' rapid march. 
To this the maid and hero hied, 
Soon stood the crystal stream beside; 
Here doflfed the knight his gleaming helm 
And filled it from the watery realm; 
Unto the maid the cask he gave. 
Long drank she of the sparkling wave; 
Then where her lips the helm had graced 
Unto that spot his own he placed, 
And from the crystal wave he quaffed 
His fill of the refreshing draft. 
Full on his face the moonbeams glow'd, 
His features to the maiden show'd, 
His manly visage fair to see 
Of all save nobleness was free; 



128 ARTELOISE. 

His was the form and his the face 

Where maid was sure her love to place, 

And feel the while her love, hope, trnst, 

And all things prized by mortal dust, 

Were laid upon as pure a shrine 

Of virtue and of faith divine, 

As ever since the world began 

Fond, trusting woman found in man. 

And pure and true in soul was he 

As can on earth we mortals be, 

And just as pure and good was she 

As those that are of evil free, 

Or nature ever saw 'till now. 

And while the night breeze fanned his brow 

Into the face before her raised 

With fix'd and searching stare she gazea: 

Watch'd the eyes beam her own above 

Which seem'd return 'd an equal love; 

And while they gazed, it seem'd each soul 

Did through the other's being roll, 

Mutual love through either heart 

Did with the foi'ce of lightning dart; 

But neither did by words confess 

What each the while could rightly guess. 

And eye to eye more plain confest 

Than Avords the feelings of each breast. 

For her that hero felt his love 

Sweep all his other thoughts above. 

She in his soul triumphant rose 

With force that could no thought oppose; 

Her image filled his spirit's sphere 

'Till nothing else seem'd harbored there; 



ARTELOISE. 129 

Love did through all his senses roll, 
And flood and overwheini his soul. 

xr. 

Sudden and swift he turned his gaze 
From e^^es that on him true love blaze; 
That beam like those in angel land 
And well his feelings understand, 
And towards a mound he led the maid 
Where flowers all the soil invade; 
There from that fair and lofty ground 
He viewed the silent hills around. 
As if the stillness there to break, 
Thus to the maid the hero spake: 

XII. 

Behold I how sweet the moonbeams glow 
Where 3'onder linn its waters throw, 
Thej^ make as grand and bright a show 
As there did molten silver flow. 
Those waters rush o'er beds of stone 
Arrayed with lustre not their own; 
For were the moon to give no light 
Those waters would be dark as night, 
And so it is with beings here 
Whom fate has placed ujjon this sphere, 
If not for some kind, genial soul, 
In whom doth kindred feeling roll. 
That sheds from each to each its ray 
Of faith and love b}'' nighc and da}-, 
How dark through life would be the way. 
And sadness would all nature sway. 
But I must keep my thoughts above 
All feelings such as earthly love, 



130 ARTELOISE. 

Nor let it e'er my spirit melt; 
A maiden's kiss I never felt; 
In mine her hand was never placed, 
By me was never maid embraced 
Through all my life on earth 'till now, 
And never will by me, I trow. 
O'er love my heart must aye prevail, 
My soul sheathed sure in virtue's mail 
Shall vanquish sin and love's assail. 
For I must earn the sacred Grail. 
I cleave the helms of giants grim, 
And piece-meal hew them form and limb; 
With stalwart arm and spirit bold 
I slaughter beasts of fen and wold, 
Huge hydi'as dread and dragons grim 
That roam the earth, or waters swim, 
That have on earth for countless years 
The souls of mortals fiU'd with fears, 
Annoyed the earth and stored the air 
With pestilence and fell despair. 
The swords of foes I do not feel, 
The}'^ shiver broken on m}^ steel. 
Nor spear, nor lance m}^ mail can pierce 
However strong the foe, and fierce; 
But when I strike, or thrust, ni}' sword 
Cleaves targe, however deep and broad; 
I carve my foeman's helm and mail, 
And vanquish all that I assail; 
Where e'er I strike mj^ blow is sure 
Because m}^ soul of sin is pure; 
M}^ strength is as a' thousand men 
Because I only virtue ken. 



ARTELOISE. 131 

I ride into the clanging lists, 

No giant there my force resists, 

My spear is tough, its strength is sure, 

And sliall all weight and shock endure; 

Before me horse and riders reel. 

It pierces true their hardest steel. 

Of conquest I am ever sure 

Because my soul of sin is pure. 

M3'' soul must aye of sin be free 

For I the sacred Grail shall see; 

It must o'er love and sin prevail 

For I shall win the holy Grail. 

And over moor and dale and hill 

Through sti-ife, and storm and every ill, 

I quest for it with sacred will 

'Till I my holy task fullil; 

Me mighty yearnings move and thrill, 

Keep hope and faith before me still, 

And silver voices fill mine ear: 

Press on, good knight, the goal is near, 

One effort more, thou shalt prevail. 

And win for aye the sacred Grail ! 

Right oft I roam through mountain halls 

To which it seems some spirit calls, 

I tread the place, I near the shrine. 

And see the lights around it shine; 

A holy music tills ni}' ears, 

But to my sense nought else appears; 

I watch the shrine 'till day's decline 

And night creeps o'er the dark'ning halls, 
When lo, a light all ruddy bright 

O'er all in sacred splendor fallsj 



132 ARTELOISE. 

Still, still I gaze 'till morning rays 

Light up again the mountain halls, 
A mystic shrine witli sounds divine, 

Nought else to me my vision calls. 
O'er mountain lake my w^ay I take 

Within a bark as light as air, 
My sails the breeze wafts o'er those seas 

Unto a secret island fair; 
I tread its sands, before me standa 

A shrine with tapers burning there, 
I look around but nought is found. 

The shrine of sacred Grail is bare; 
J5ut awed profound, I hear the sound 

Of whispered, never-ending jjrayer. 
But whence it springs, from whence it rings 

My spirit can't conjecture where. 
By day and night in armor bright, 

With read}^ sword and spear in rest, 
Through shine and storm I urge m}' form, 

And for the sacred Grail I quest; 
And while I ride o'er kingdoms wide, 

Search palace, cot, tower and hall. 
Grim dragon's cave, or hero's grave, 

Or where so e'er my shadow fall. 
Strange sights and new I ever view, 

And of alternate woe and weal. 
Which often bring in listed ring 

The champions clothed in clanging steel; 
With mace of might and axe as briglit; 

As icicle 'neath moonlight seen, 
The tough, strong spear that keepeth clear 

Wide space the charging knights between 



AATELOISE. 133 

The gleaming sword with surface broad 

Which ever to its task is true, 
Tliat swift alights, the helmet smites, 

And it and breast-plate journeys through 
And oft a maid with charm arrajed 

Sweet as the rose at early morn, 
This single arm has brought from hann 

And saved from lasting shame and scorn. 
And if I ride the nations wade 

And never find the sacred Grail, 
Yet, deeds of good, my knightlihood, 

Shall recompense me if I fail. 
Apast my lips no nectar slips 

Save what gushes from the cr3^stal rill, 
The sparkling wine for those must shine 

Who courteth human i)ain and ill. 
Through shine and hail o'er hill and dale 

With toil that seeketh none of rest, 
I'll search each place and secret space, 

And for the sacred Grail I'll quest. 

XIII. 

And for it too, the maid replied, 
I'll with you search the nations wide. 
For it through storm and shine I'll ride, 
And nougiit shall bring me from ^our side. 
My soul of sin is chaste and pure, 
In virtue's mail 'tis sheathed secure. 
His lips on mine ne'er man did place, 
And never felt I knight's embrace. 
Ne'er hero pressed this hand of mine. 
My thoughts are void of sin as thine, 
And for tlie sacred Grail I'll quest 
With equal care and equal zest. 



134 ABTEL0I8E. 

I seek no wealth but ruddy health, 

And spiriu unalloyed with sin, 
With you I go through weal or woe 

'Till I with you the Grail shall win. 
Through stately halls 'midst mountain walls, 

Piled there b^^ knightly kings of old. 
By night and day I've ta'en my way, 

Searched secret shrjne and magic hold. 
No matter where m^^ feet career 

To hidden mosque or secret shrine, 
The shrine was bare, no Grail was there. 

But glowing rouud did tapers shine; 
While all around did whispers sound 

Like voices of ascending prayer, 
Or mists at morn when light is born 

And vapors rise in sunlit air. 
No pause nor stay, I've ta'en my way. 

And quested for the sacred Grail 
O'er lonely lands and burning sands, 

To tread might any mortal quail; 
And though no sound nor sight I found 

That might me on my pathway cheer. 
Yet faith and hope still bade me cope 

'Gainst disappointment, toil and care; 
And meet with scorn all feeling born 

From doubt, or sloth, or dark despair, 
Turn from aside with lordly pride 

Those who mocked at my questing there. 
Through mountain mists 'midst tourney lists 

Where charging, clashing squadrons reel. 
Where armors clang, and trumpets twang 

Their mad'ning strains to heroes' peal; 



ARTELOISE. 135 

Where morions bright tlie swords invite, 

That sunder wide the tempered steel, 
Wliere death careers, and sjilintered spears 

Their fl^'ing shafts in air reveal. 
Where mace of might and axes bright 

Tremendous wreck and ruin deal, 
Such sights and sounds mine ej'es have found 

While questing for the holy Grail; 
Yet still I quest and may not rest 

For it I'll fiud, I shall not fail. 
Once on my quest, with toil oppressed, 

And burden of the dreary day, 
Beside a shrine did I recline 

Where tapers burn'd with steadfast ray; 
Without did howling tempest blow, 
And cover'd o'er the hills with snow; 
Lull'd by the sighing of the storm 
In slumber sank my weary form, 
And while I slept, I dream'd I saw 
A scene that fill'd my soul with awe; 
Methought I sailed a mountain mere, 
That was as crystal, bright and clear, 
So pure that I could look below 
And see its rock floor white as snow; 
Down deep upon its polished bed 
Methought I saw bright fairies tread, 
They danced around in perfect mirth 
And seem'd of joy to have no dearth; 
And while they danced I heard them sing 
A song that made the waters ring. 

With harmonj' profound, 
The song they sang did wider fling 
Its more than mortal sound; 



136 ARTELOISK 

Till from the flood a mighty storm 

It swelling o'er the mountain falls, 
Until it shook the lofty form 

Of all the momitain's granite walls; 
Where steep and vast those mountains rose 
With summits crowned with flecc}^ snows, 
And where the clouds above them formed 
An awful arch where lightnings stormed, 
And shot their flashing bolts around 
'Midst floods of flame and worlds of sound. 
And while the noises thundered there, 
And fill'd that arching cloudlaud's sphere, 
Right through the flakes of falling snow 
There shot a shaft of silver glow, 
From clouds it reached to earth below 
And formed a bridge all glowing bright; ' 
It made a span of dazzling light 
From clouds unto the crystal mere, '• 

Shot through the rippling waters there, 
And full with flooding sheen it falls 
Upon the fairies' wonderous halls; 
Swift up the shaft of glowing light 
I saw the fairies take their flight, 
And as they lightly sped along 
Incessant poured their tide of song. 
The language was some Runic rhyme. 
Or of some race of olden time. 
That lived within some unknown land; 
And I no word could understand; 
But with bewitching music rung 
The harmony those fairies sung, 
And organ notes roll deep between 
The rhymes, as preludes intervene. 



ARTELOISE. 13»f 

Moved foremost of the faiiy tlu-ong 
One o'er the rest more tall and strong, 
And did diviner form disclose; 
Fair was her face as is the rose 
Where red and white divinely glow, 
Their blending shades together throw, 
Commingling pour their living hues 
And glitter with their morning dews. 
Her golden tresses loosely streamed 
O'er her, and all radiant gleam'd 
As doth the waste of frozen snow 
When full on it the moonbeams glow, 
And makes its polished surface show 
A gleamy sheen that seems to flow, 
And move in ripples flashing bright, 
And pours around redundant light. 
Her lily hands were clean and fair 
As virgin snow just born in air, 
Nor yet of earth has caught a sight, 

Nor knows of taint from mount nor moor 
And in her hands a vessel bright 

She up her shining pathway bore, 
A vessel bright, I knew, it well, 

Though never it I'd seen before, 
A brighter lustre round it fell 

As it did higher, higher soar. 
0, glorious sight, the sacred Grail 

I saw brought from that mountain Hood, 
Up paths of light with fairies sail, 

Fill'd with the Saviour's holy blood. 
I heard a peal of thunder, loud 

As ever jarred on mortal ears, 



138 AIITELOISE. 

And looking np unto the cloud 

That hid all the heavenlj' spheres, 
I saw upon that bridge of light 

Descending swift as flying hail, 
A throng of angels stoled in white 

"Who seized and bore awa}^ the sacred Grail. 
I heard the flapping of their wings 

As up the path of light they flew, 
And Avhile they sped, each angel sings 

A song that all triumphant rings, 
And fir and wide a music flings 

That only ears of heaven knew. 
Straight the clouds above "svere riven 

And light redundant filled the space, 
A flaring shaft of light was driven 

Like magic from the earth to heaven, 

And did the boundless void embrace. 
Up this with speed the angels throng 

On flapping, snowy pinions sail. 
And bear away 'midst blissful song 

The blood of God, the sacred Grail. 
I Avatched the glory pass away 
'Till it was lost in dazzling ray, 
To which it ever seemVl to soar 
'Till I could see and hear no more. 
Oh, how I longed to burst the thrall 
Of mortal bondage, leap the wall 
And free me from this earthly hall, 
As neighing charger breaks from stall 
And darts along the grassy plains, 
And evermore the bit disdains. 
Light after light, ray after ray, 
I saw the glory fade away, 



ARTELOISE. L 89 

And pass back to the noon-day su::, 
And seem'd at once the place grew dun, 
And woke I Avith a stiffen'd form, 
Still fell the snow, still roared the storm. 
The liglits around the altar hurn'd 
Bright as when them I first discerned, 
And o'er it la}^ its snowy cloth, 
Untouched by time, or wasting moth, 
Its silver vessels glittered there, 
And by them opened books of prayer, 
And a3'c I heard sweet voices ring, 
Yet could I see no living thing. 

XIV. 

O'er mountain wilds, through snow and hail 
For years I've sought the sacred Grail, 
Through vast cathedrals I have trod, 
All places mortals worship God; 
Througli chapel, temple and through fane, 
Yet has m_y search been all in vain. 
Searched caves in forests, glen and fell, 
Where hoary Druids secret dwell, 
And ever chant their mournful tunes, 
Their hjmns and psalms in mystic runes. 
Where e'er I tread I feel no dread 
Of aught I meet nor see nor hear, 
I dread no storm nor breathing form, 
'Tis only sin I need to fear; 
Through good or ill my spirit still 
Shall kee^) itself serene and pure, 
Virtue with me must ever be 

Strong as eternity and sui'e. 
A maiden kniglit am I, I roam 

Where e'er on earth I list to go, 



140 ARTELOISE. 

The whole wide earth to me is home, 

My friends: my quiver and m^' bow. 
Oft on m}^ gallant steed I ride, 
Scour the countr}' far and wide. 
All clad like knight in gleaming mail, 

I wear a helm, I bear a shield. 
The spear I lift, the sword I wield, 

Although my hand seems small and frail; 
And ne'er to foeman did I yield. 

Nor at grim danger quake nor quail; 
I meet ray foemen on the field — 

All who w^ould me with wrong assail, 
I pierce their steel, my blows they feel, 
To earth doth steeds and riders reel, 

And I o'er all their might prevail. 
Such have I done and still shall do, 
Until I find the blessed clue 

That leads me to the sacred Grail. 
Oft in my dreams a glory gleams 

That floods on high the viewless air, 
And mighty forms like clouds in storms 

Although no sable hues they wear — 
Fill up all space and hide the face 

Of skies that late were beaming clear. 
And angels bright, wdiose robes are white 

As foam round ocean's stormy wraith, 
Come round me there and hover near, 

Pure angels of immortal faith; 
And of eternal hope and love, 

Pure beings of immortal joy, 
Who hover round the throne above, 

Wiiose souls uo isius shall e'er annoy. 



ARTELOISE, 14 1 

Pure spirits of eternal peace, 

Whose downy j^inions cleave the air, 
Whom I shall join when I shall cease 

My questing on this planet here. 
And while I long to burst the chains 

That binds my soul in mortal thrall, 
I hear distinct the blissful strains 

Of song and music rise and fall. 
I see them rise and soar to sides, 

And into dazzling brightness sail, 
Soar into beams where glory gleams 

And bear with them the sacred Grail. 

XV. 

She ceased, for from the heights aloft 
There came a music sweet and soft. 
That louder came and still more near, 
And filled with tones the moonlit air; 
And countless voices hover round. 
And load the place with song and sound, 
This song of all did loudest swell, 
And sent its words o'er hill and dell: 

SONG- 

Gloomy as midnight clouds above 

The mountain's craggy crest. 
Are those w!io never felt of love 

One feeling light their breast; 
Who ever keep themselves aloof 

From friendship's smiles and tears, 
Whose souls are sheathed in armor i)roof 

To all its hopes and fears. 
Who sail across the sea of life, 

Feel no joy that grief beguiles, 



142 ARTELOISE. 

Nor feel the bliss with rapture rife 

Found in its ftiiry isles; 
Whose lips through all their mortal thrall 

Kiss only empty air, 
And never touch the mouth at all 

Of loving being here. 
Who plod through life their weary day, 

And breathe for self alone, 
And dying pass from earth away 

Forsaken and unknown; 
Their life on earth has been a blank, 

An empty, dreary space, 
The stream is dried along the bank, 

No waters bless the place. 
The talents nature gave to them 

Have faded ere their bloom, 
The whole is withered branch and stem, 

And death the roots assume. 
They reap no harvest from their toil, 

Blight seizes every ear, 
And over all their dreary soil 

Doth moulding night appear; 
But those who hand in hand move down 

The mystic vale of life, 
Though sorrows darkly round them frown 

They still with bliss are rife. 
Their days are ever flowing full 

Of joys that vanquish pain. 
Together on through life they pull 

As nature did ordain; 
Their stream is ever flowing clear 

How e'er the storms may fly, 



AliTELOISE. 143 

Nor droughts however long and drear 

Can ever wholly dr3\ 
They kiss no empty air, but press 

The lips with passions warm, 
No empty shadows they caress, 

The}' clasp the human form; 
They feel it nestle to their side 

In loving, close embrace, 
Nor they of it would be denied 

For aught on nature's face. 
Their arms are just as strong in fight, 

Their spears are just as sure 
As those who ne'er felt love's delight, 

And feeling deep and pure; 
They bend as strong and tough a bow. 

Their arrows fly as true 
As those who never felt love's throe, 

Nor yet his raptures knew. 
Their swords the gleaming helmets carve* 

And hew as deep through mail 
As who of love their natures starve, 

And o'er its sweets prevail; 
Yes, hand in hand, they move along 

In everlasting gleam. 
All jo3'S of earth to them belong 

With which does nature teem. 

XVI. 

Here ceased the song, but ere had died 

Its echoes o'er the vallcj's wide, 

A lay of deeper, stronger tone 

Was over all the valle3's thrown; 

But what spot, or place around 

Burst forth that song and music's sound, 



144 ARTELOISE. 

The knight and maiden could not tell, 
Nor guess the least from whence they swell. 
It seemed the earth as well as air 
Had voices singing everywhere, 
All space was full of music's sound, 
It breathed from all the eartli around, 
And aeem'd that ever^^ tree that stood 
Alone, or in the Avaving wood, 
The oak, the gum, the poplar sti'ong. 
Were music breatliing forth with song, 
And with a w^ild and mystic trill 
This la}^ was sung o'er glen and hill: 

song: 
Happy are they who void of sin 

Walk pure and chaste before their God, 
For they a priceless crown shall win 

When they through nature's realm have trod; 
Happy are the}'' who through this life 

No fleeting joys of earth have known. 
Who 'gainst the tempter waged their strife 

'Till all his wiles w^ere overthrown. 
Happy are the^^ wdio never kuew 

One pang nor thrill of mortal love, 
For they shall all the glories view 

And feel within the realms aboA'e; 
Happy are thej'- Avho never pressed 

The lips of mortals to their own. 
Who ne'er w^ere fondled and caressed 
By those of mortal flesh and bone. 
Happ3' are they whose chastened lips » 

Touch and kiss empty air alone, 
Their mouth alone the nectar sips 

That flows from the eternal throne; 



ARrTELOISE. 145 

Happy are they whose hearts are pure 

And ne'er did mortal passions feel, 
Who sheathed in A'irtue's mail secure 

Are ever unto heaven leal. 
They stand in everlasting light, 

A glory ever round them beams, 
The angels watch their sleep b}' niglit, 

With happy visions lill tiieir dreams; 
Happy are they who bold in faith 

Have waited, watched and trusted long, 
Their robes shall be white as the wraith 

Whenseas are stirred by tempests strong. 
Happy are they who love but God, 

And have save Him no other fear, 
By them the sacred path is trod 

That brings them to their Maker near; 
Happy are they who through this life 

Forever walk and dwell alone. 
Who quell their natures, passions rife 

That riot in their flesh and bone; 
Who over vanquished lust and will 

Rear firm their everlasting throne; 
Who over every mortal ill 

Sustain a triumph all their own; 
Who quell all tumults of their soul, 

All anarchy of hopes and fears. 
Nor ever waver in control 

Through all their sj^an of mortal years; 
Their spear shall still be tough and strong 

And pierce all gleaming armor sure; 

Their trust}^ sword carve bucklers broad 

And helms of tempered metals pure; 



146' ARTELOISE. 

In listed rings o'er knights and kings 

They ever shall triumphant ride, 
Safe and secure they shall endure 

What e'er the odds, what e'er betide. 
Happy they who thrice all ills endure, 

Suffer woe and pain through all their lives, 
And still of every sin are. pure 

Though fierce 'gainst them the tempter strives, 
By fate it is to them decreed 

To vanquish; over all prevail; 
Before their steel all foes shall reel, 

And they shall find the sacred Grail. 

XVII. 

The voices died; but still the sound 
Of music fiird the air around, 
Weird and strange at times its trill 
Re-echoed over glen and hill; 
Where height and valley, rock and stream 
Glowed bright unto the moon's broad beam, 
Where forests waved their statel}' heads 
In glor}' 'neath the light she sheds; 
Whose dewy leaves a splendor show 
When e'er the sighing breezes blow, 
And them in gentle motion throw 
As molten silver there did flow. 
Where tracks of distant torrents gleam 
With dazzling light beneath her beam, 
As ceaseless down the mountain side 
They rush unto the valley wide. 
And dashing on the rocks below, 
In air their mist}^ vapors throw; 
And white along the valle}' s sail 
Look like some virgin's bridal veil, 



ARTELOISE. 147 

The moon like some vast pharos' blaze 
Looks on the earth with steadfast gaze; 
While stars that round her faintly beam, 
Like ships upon an ocean seem, 
When all becalm'd their silent sails 
Hang deathlike, waiting rising gales. 
The violets and lily's bed 
Still on the air sweet odors shed, 
The rose hung on its tender stem 
And in sweet fragrance vied with them; 
Flowers of garden and of dale 
There breathed their odors o'er the vale. 
And everj-where the e3'e could trace 
O'er all that strange and lovelj^ place, 
In every stir and sight and sound 
That was above, below, around. 
There lurked a splendor vast, intense, 
That charmed all mortal soul and sense. 
Swift as the speed of fleeting breath 
That sudden leaves us thrall'd in death, 
A column vast of blazing sheen 
Flashed up the earth and sky between; 
And where the mountain tallest stood 
With gleaming rocks, all bare of wood, 
That column vast of brightness pure 
Stood blazing on foundation sure; 
And all that mountain's mighty crest 
With dazzling rings huge flames invest; 
Strange forms and figures mov'd around, 
But all with them is void of sound; 
And seem'd no noise amongst them stirr'd, 
Not e'en a lowly whispered word. 



148 ARTELOISE. 

From place to i:)lace they glide or come, 
But with them noise is dead or dumb 
'Till shot a shaft of gleaming sheen 
Across the vale, the heights between, 
A might}^ bridge of glowing light, 
It spann'd the vale from height to height; 
And right where stood the knight and maid 
The bridge's glowing end was laid, 
Then from the sky and nature's form 
A rolling, shaking, swelling storm 
Of harmony rose on the air 
That fill'd all space and everywhere; 
And swift across the bridge of light 
Where stood the maiden and the knight. 
There past a throng of angels bright 
On downy wings all clothed in white; 
A kindly smile the foremost wore 
As ever 3'et an angel bore; 
And thus with gentle words she spake, 
Whose tones did sweetest music make: 
Thou maid of Christ, thou knight of God 
The journey to th^^ goal is trod. 
Thy quest by day and night is done, 
Tiie prize, the sacred Grail is won ! 
Tiien in the hands of knight and maid 
A chalice bright that angel laid. 
Swift, sudden as the flash of light 
Darting from the cloud at night. 
The angel throng straight disappear 
As though they melted into air; 
The gleaming pageant past away 
'Till hidden in redundant ray; 



ARTELOISE. 149 

'Till lost beyond the walls of space, 

And mortal e^'C no more could trace; 

With peace to earth, good-will to men 

The music died on hill and glen. 

And side by side in silent prayer 

Kneel'd down the kniglit and maiden there. 

With spirits void of lust and sin — • 

Where rest could nouglit but virtue win, 

They breathed to God their thankful praters, 

The prize was won, the sacred Grail was theirs. 



PART V. 



I. 

Above the graj' horizon's rim 

The coming liglits of morning swim, 

Shaft after shaft, spear after spear, 

T'he feeble lines of light appear; 

And floating through the realms of space 

Spread over all creation's face; 

From sight the paling stars are drawn 

And hide before the coming dawn. 

Wave after wave tlie sprat's of light 

By swift degrees become more bright, 

'Till ros3' streaks the skies adorn 

A nd don the ruddj' hues of morn; 

'Till night of all its gloom is shorn 

And day upon its lap is born. 

The sun beams from his glowing halls, 

And over glen and mountain walls 



150 ARTELOISE. 

Ilis floo'.l of sheen redundant falls, 
And earth from darkness disenthralls. 
The rocky peaks and mountain stream 
With renovated glory gleam; 
The forests wave their heads and teem 
With life increased beneath his beam; 
O'er violets the dew drops shine 
And sparkle with a sheen divine. 
The grass and moss and flowers bright. 
Moist with refreshing- dews of night 
llejoicing don his beams of light, 
Display an all enchanting sight. 
Emit from all their heads and stems 
'i'lie gleaming often thousand gems, 
Of every varied hue and shade 
Yet fancy drew or nature made; 
Where down the heights abrupt and tall 
The roaring floods of torrents fall. 
And swingeing by the boulders vast 
That all along their bed are cast, 
Around the watei-s madly swirl, 
And high o'er them their snow wreaths hurl; 
Then crested o'er with flying froth 
White as the snow fields of the North, 
The}' gather down the mountain's side 
To dread ab3sses yawning wide; 
There plunge on rocks in headlong flow 
That churn them into foam below, 
Their spra^^ in misty vapors rise 
'Till cloudlike o'er the hills it flies; 
On it the sun his glory sheds 
And bursts it into shining shreds; 



ARTELOISE. 151 

And bright through fields of azure air 
Like sheets of gold those mists repair, 
Through space spread widetheir flyingtrain 
Like fleeting fancies of the brain. 
And lost in space they disappear 
Like human hope and joy and fear. 

II. 

The sun moves up his destined way 
And cheers the world with his warm ray, 
Seems all things wake to rapture rife, 
Assume the ruddy hues of life; 
And strengthened by their night's repose, 
The virgin blush of joy disclose. 
At his bright coming all the world 
In glor^' and in light is furled, 
Wrapt in a robe of flashing gems 
More bright than queenly diadems, 
That with their beauty overwhelms 
All other gaud in nature's realms, 
And fills with warmth and vigor rife 
All things that nature throbs with life. 
Roused from his lair b}'^ coming morn 
The roe looks from his den of thorn, 
Sees with glad heart the day begun, 

« 

And hails with joy the rising sun; 
Feels strengthened 'neath the coming sheen 
And bounds to pastures fresh and green. 
And happy birds on flapping wing, 
Make hills and glens and forests ring 
With gladsome songs thej^ ceaseless sing; 
Hail with delight his coming beam, 
And lave their wings in rill and stream. 



152 ARTELOISE. 

All birds of air and beasts of field 

A homage to his splendors yield, 

The bleating sheep and lowing kine 

Delighted hail his coming shine; 

And leaping skip around the fold, 

Or gambol over field and wold; 

Frolic before his coming glow 

With pranks no other time they show. 

The goat leaps from his leavy lair 

Aiid sniffs with joy the morning air, 

Spreads on the wind his flowing beard 

And bounds where tallest heights are rear'd. 

With haughty neigh, the gallant steed 

Sees earth by morn of darkness freed. 

With head erect and nostrils wide, 

And eyes that flash with lordly pride, 

He sees the new-born day begun; 

And gazing on the rising sun 

He shakes the dew drops from his mane, 

And neighing bounds along the plain 

High on the mountain's tallest crest 

Where hangs from giddy crags his nest, 

With flapping wings and joyous scream 

The eagle hails tLe rising beam; 

On soaring pinions speeds his flight 

'Till hid in azure fields of light; 

'Till lost in boundless realms of space 

Where he can view ail nature's face. 

The stately hound with leap and whine. 

Delighted sees the morning's shine; 

Speeds o'er the hills in swift career, 

Or scents through glens the bounding deer 



ARTELOISE. 153 

Yes, everything in nature born 
Hails with delight the coming morn; 
With gladness hails the rising sun 
Dispersing night and vapors dun. 
Yes, eveiythihg in nature's state, 
The animate and inanimate, 
V>y color, sound or glowing gleam, 
A welcome gives his rising beam; 
The love of all his raj^s have won. 
For life they breathe from out the sun. 

III. 

But ere had dawned the morning's light, 

The maiden and that gallant knight 

In quest of fair Clotilda sped, 

And roused her from her slumbers dread; 

Soon as the hol}^ Grail they bore 

Beside the maid, her sleep was o'er, 

Her eyelids oped, her sleep was done, 

And sped like mists before the sun, 

Xo more the necromancer's thrall 

Bound body, soul and senses all. 

She rose from off the wizard's lair 

As light as springs a fomn of air, 

And with a wild, bewildered stare 

She ej^es the knight and maiden there; 

Who in their turn with wonder see 

Her of the wizard's slumber free, 

And all that throng of maidens fair 

Who slept around Clotilda there, 

Were roused from out their slumbers deep, 

Their fell, enchanted, wizard's sleep. 

And thus her tale Clotilda tells 

How all came there through wizard's si)ells: 



154 ARTELOISE. 



IV. 



The (lay 3011 left King Arthur's hall 

To journey with that hoary man, 
I vowed, let good or ill befall, 
I'd follow over mountain wall, 
O'er bridgeless voids and summits tall, 

And fiercest streams that ever ran; 
No danger drear in nature wide 
Should keep me from my idol's side; 
So I and all this maiden throng 
Set forth on our palfreys strong; 
An open wav before us lay 

Through brake, through glen, o'er wold and hill 
We journeyed 'till tlie close of day 

Nor met with least of dole or ill. 
On sand, on rock, on moss and sod. 

Fresh horse tracks we could ever scan, 
That showed where steeds had lately trod, 

Rode by 3'ou and that hoary man. 
As night closed in, and hill and dell 

Were donn'd in sable robes of mist. 
And their black arms round glen and fell 

The spirits stern of darkness twist. 
We saw a vast and lofty tower 
High on a rock}'" mountain loAver. 
Swift up the winding wa}^ we sped 
That to the lofty tower led. 
Wide open were its portals thrown 
And to us there was Merlin shown, 
He bade us welcome and we rode 
Through the threshold in the strange abode. 
Then we heard the huge portcullis fall. 
And iron gate close 'gainst the wall, 



ARTELOISE. 155 

And knew we were in Merlin's tlirall; 
And soon we on our palfreys range 
Throughout a court-yard wild and strange, 
Away our palfrey's reins we flung, 
And to the earth we lightly sprung; 
We reached a hall of grand array, 
To whicii grim Merlin led the way, 
Around bright lights their lustre shed, 
And round were crimson couches spread, 
A drowsy sleep o'ertook us all; 
One by one I saw these maidens fall 
Each on a couch in slumber deep, 
And soon myself, I sank to sleep. 
The last thing there that I beheld 
Just ere I was to slumber quelled 
Was Merlin standing hy my bed 
Waving a wand above m}' head; 
His flowing beard as white as frost 
Was over all his bosom tost; 
His hoary locks in mighty hoard 
Hung down o'er all his shoulders broad; 
His sable eyes like lightnings glowed 
'Neath brows that white and shaggy floAved; 
And his strange features seemed the lair 
Of wretchedness and grim dispair; 
As if all sorrows, woes and grief, 
All cares that know of no relief- 
Had on him swooped in one fell storm 
And bent and knarled his awful form. 
He looked like some old mountain oak 
That long had stood the tempest's stroke, 
And felt the lightnings round it hurled, 
Which lelt it scorched and torn and knurled; 



150 AllTELOISE. 

Tluit winter decks with fleecy snows 

But every knar distinctly sliows, 

Each withered branch and bliglited stem 

Where leaves no more shall spring from them, 

But soon the storms shall scatter wide 

O'er vale and stream and mountain side. 

As ceased her tale a wondrous stir 

Filled all the air around, 
All like that swift and sudden whir 

From ll3ing arrows sound; 
Like the murmur of may Lees 

When round their hives they swarm, 
Like the buzz of collected Hies 

On eve of summer storm; 
liike the low droning of the sea 

When winds are sleeping round, 
Like hum from Eolian har[)S 

Poth come the whirring sound. 
And from a spot of naked earth 

That did but rock disclose, 
Sudden as phantom springs to sight 

The form of Merlin rose. 
All full of griefs and full of years 

The aged seer appeared, 
Down o'er his breast and shoulders broad 

Flowed white his hair and beard; 
Though many marks they both revealed 

Where scorching flame had jmst, 
Singed was his beard and singed his hair, 

And charrs his robe o'er cast; 
X twitching all his form revealed 

As smote by palsy grim, 



ARTELOISE. 15'i 

Or else it seemed some nakir dretul 

Posessed him every limb. 
His brawny hands and arms were bare, 

And hard their thews were knarr'd, 
O'er them tlie prints of flame were seen, 

These too with flame were scarr'd; 
His brows and beard all o'er his lace 

Through singeing flames were marr'd. 
Sudden with form erect and tall 

All changed to vigor good, 
Before the knight and maiden throng 

The hoary wizard stood; 
And with a voice as wierd and wild 

As when night donns her hood 
And the breezes bring the sighs of ghosts 

From out some olden wood 
He spoke: Ere I to the nadir go 

To there through eon dwell, 
1 would alike to friend and foe 

All peaceful bid farewell. 
Soon will my time on earth be o'er, 

My place shall others mMu, 
For too much goodness corrupts the worhl 
As well as too much sin, 
1 A full and equal share of both 

This whole rountl world must swaY; 
Too much action, or too much sloth 

Would make the w^orld decay. 
Old styles, old things must pass away 

And make room for the new, 
Fancies, customs, habits, laws must change 
All ever nature kncM-; 



158 ARTELOISE. 

Ignorance dwells with the multitude 

And wisdom with the few. 
The common soldier of the ranks 

Can countless comrades boast, 
But still only one head, one brain, 

To glory leads the host. 
Tlie bees are many in the hive. 

The drones in swarms are seen, 
But howe'er A-ast they seem to be 

They only show one queen. 
Birds are man}' in the air: 

The swallow, sparrow, jay. 
Their c >untless kindred show around 

On every leav}' spray; 
Bat more than one eagle at a time 

We scarcely' e'er survey; 
The slave his countless kindred boasts 

On moor, on hill and field. 
But to one chief, one king alone 

His trooping kindred 3'ield. 
The stars are many in the sk}'-, 

But only one bright sun 
Warms up and cheers the earth, while it 

Through boundless space is spun, 
And keeps it from eternal chill 

And vapors dank and dun. 
The trees are many on the hills, 

Of every size and form — 
But only one good sturdy oak 
Withstood the lightning's blasting stroke. 

The thunder and the storm. 
Flowers are man}' o'er the earth 

Of every shape and hue, 



ARTELOISE. 159 

But those tliJit claim the gardeiu>r's care 

Are hut a wondrous few. 
The shells are many on the beach, 

Yet in only one was seen 
The pearl that pleased the monarch's eye, 

And decks the brow of queen. 
And for some cause unknown to me 

I'm different from my kind, 
In subtle secrets I am skill'd 

To Avliich my race is blind. 
I walk the paths of life alone 

Aaid do the will of fate. 
Mysteries, I unveil, undo, 

Or m^'steries create; 
And over man 'till now I've been 

Despotic potentate. 
I have but swayed the wand of power 

With all my might and will. 
That fate entrusted unto me 

For either good or ill. 
And having done what fate decreed 

My m^^stic force should do, 
I've but done my duty here, and been 

Unto my nature true; 
No fault that man shall find shall make 

Me any action rue; 
Had I a thousand j-ears to live 

I'd still my ways pursue. 
I curse, I bless, I guard, I harm, 

I succor, aid, defeat, 
I arm the hero or disarm. 
His courage, cool or heat; 



60 -ARTELOISE. 

All weal or woe that he endures 

Alike to me are sweet 
As honey to the taste, or wine 

Unto the drunkard's lips, 
Or dew unto the thirsty bud 
It in the drought-time sips. 
Sweet as is unto the miser 
The glitter of his hoard, 
Sweet as is unto the hero 

The trophies of his sword. 
Sweet as is unto the mother 

The smile of her first-bom, 
Sweet as to benighted traveller 

The glimmer of the morn, 
Sweet as the first -narm kiss of love 

Of maiden and of jouth, 
Sweet as the secret vows the^' breathe- 
All hope and faith And truth — - 
Sweet as to the drowning sailor 
The hand that succor brings, 
Sweet as to the butterfly 

The splendor of its wings ; 
So sweet, so dear, unto my soul 

Is all my magic lore ; 
Give me the wisdom of the seer, 

I ask of Fate no more. 
Let me but in my selfhood own 
The wizard's power and swaj', 
I care not for all else that is 

Throughout wide Nature's way. 
And as a seer ui)on this earth 
I here would liuscer still — 



ARTELOISE. 161 

Through immortality of good, 

Immortality of ill. 
Of Fate I compreliend the goal — 

Have studied ever}' part ; 
Those parts were atoms of the whole, 
Made up its body, mind and soul. 
And all that did its life control — 

So I know it all by heart. 
Time with me is hoar, and Fate decrees 

Me for some other clime, 
Where 1 shall work for weal or woe 

Beyond the walls of Time ; 
And there, like here, I still shall move 

Through tower, o'er glen and hill. 
Unseen by eyes of living thing, 

Except when e'er I will. 
Though fashioned like mankind I am, 

And life-blood through me flows, 
Yet, in shine or shade, by day or night. 

My form no shadow throws ; 
And where I tread, save when I will. 

No mortal vision knows. 
Though I journey to some other spliere, 

Be^'Ond the coast of Tnne, 
Yet Fate decrees I shall once more 

Be seen upon this clime. 
Ere yonder moon shall wane and change, 

And full become once more, 
I here shall tread in power dread, 

A wizard as of yore ; 
For on these hills the hosts of Rome 

Shall, for the last time, meet 

11 



162 ARTELOISE. 

The knights renowned of the Table Round, 

With war King Arthur greet ; 
And on one side shall glor}' bide, 

On the other grim defeat, 
But which shall vanquish, which shall fly, 

Fate bids me not foretell ; 
For two whole days the strife shall last; 

And spread a havoc fell ; 
And midst that fight, in all my might 

And glory, as of old. 
From out the earth shall I arise, 

And me shall all behold. 
My magic flag with me shall rise, 

A phantom to the sight, 
And it shall wave in windless air, 

As midst a tempest's might ; 
And on that side shall Merlin ride 

Who'll conquer in that fight. 
Farewell ; be wise, be good, be true, 

B.e ever virtuous still ; 
Feai only God, where'er ye be. 

And guard 'gainst sin and ill. 
Do this b}^ night and day, and ye 

Shall your destinies fulfil, 
And overwhelm the wizard's might, 

His force, his fraud and will. 
Still bless, not curse, your mortal foe; 

Do as the sandal-tree, 
That doth a sweet perfume bestow 
Unto the axe that lays it low 

In death upon the lea. 
Sow 3'our seed for good in faith and hope, 

And water it with tears ; 



ARTELOISE. 163 

So choice fruit, in God's briglit light, 'twill bear 

AVithin the coming years. 
Who sows the seed is answerable 

For the harvest that it rears. 
Both good and ill their deeds have wrought, 

Through all the boundless past ; 
Botli for the mastery have warred, 

And still their strife shall last 
Through all the ages yet to come, 

Till, midst wasting ruins strown. 
The hidden generations rest, 

And Time is with moss o'ergrown. 
Faith, hope and love and charity, 

Be ever with 3^ou still — 
I'd not wish ye else, e^en could I 
Heap over ye, as mountains high, 

Famine, war and every ill. 
May Glory w\alk beside ye still 

Where'er your feet invade. 
And keep with ye through good or ill 

The vast world's promenade. 
But Lhou, Sir Knight, a deed must do 

Ere yet five days be past ; 
Thou, with thy hoary guide, the Jew, 

Must cross an ocean vast. 
And sail into the Polar seas, 

To realms of ice and snow, 
Where only rocks of ice are seen, 

And freezing tempests blow. 
There, midst those mountains grim of ice. 

Within a cavern deep, 
My only child, Ursula, dwells. 
Wrapt in a charmed sleep. 



164 ARTELOISE. 

For just six hundred years and one 

Ha-s she been sleeping there, 
Guarded by ghouls and>demons grim 

That rule the Polar sphere ; 
And never from her slumber drear 

Shall she arise again, 
Till a knight renowned of the Table Round 

Shall tread that frozen main. 
Thou art the knight, described of yore, 

The man by Fate decreed 
To journey to those realms of snow, 

And do the daring' deed ; 
Yes, end a father's wasting woe, 

And glory is thy meed ; 
For thou shalt save from lasting harm 

As fair and pure a maid 
As since the birth of time has walked 

The huge world's promenade. 
This eve a barge will wait for thee, 

Moor'd to an ocean pier ; 
Thy hoary guide will go with thee, 

And o'er floods the barge will steer. 
Go, do the task that Fate decreed ; 

From rigid realms of snow 
Carry forth the loveliest maid 

That ever Time shall know. 



As the bubble leaves the gazers eye, 

Upon the water's face, 
And o'er all the realm of water 

Behind it leaves uo trace — 



ARTELOISB. 165 

So swift, complete and suddenly 

Grim Merlin left the place. 
Ere on his tongue the last word died, 

Gone was the hoary seer ; 
Far swifter than a flash of thought " 

He melted into air. 
Whilti gazed the knight and maidens there, 

With wonder and surprise, 
Their startled senses scarce believing 

The witness of their eyes, 
They heard the heavy tramp of steeds 

Within the vale below ; 
The clash of arms, the clang of steel. 

And heard a trumpet blow. 
A thousand knights, on thousand steeds, 

Came plunging up the hill — 
The knights renowned of the Table Round, 

Whose fame the nations fill. 
Arthur, the good, of knightlihood 

The choicest flower on earth, 
That ever dared a noble deed. 

Since Time has had its birth, 
Rode by the side of the hoary guide, 

The Jew, who there had led, 
Through lonely, winding ways, De Main, 

And there had from him sped. 
Around the knight and maidens there 

The horsemen throng amain ; 
With shouts of joy that sounded wide 

Their snorting steeds they rein. 
Sheathed v/as each knight in armor bright. 

From head to heel it glowed ; 



166 AETELOISE. 

And down o'er casques of burnished steel 

Plumes of varied colors flowed. 
From otf his steed King Arthur sprang, 

And doffed his glove of steel ; 
The hero's hand he grasped, and said : 

" Thou noble knight and leal, 
No braver soul in Fate's control 

Was e'er in mortal stored ; 
No braver heart and stronger hand 

Has ever drawn a sword. 
Thy fame shall last till time is o'er, 

And ceased has even earth, 
And then in other worlds than this 

Shall angels sing thy worth. 
And what is all this path through life, 
Though Fortune's gifts be scattered rife, 

And all exempt from woe, 
If we don't leave behind our name 
Enrolled upon the page of fame. 

With never-fading glow, 
To live in story and in song, 
While the centuries sweep along, 

So all our worth shall know? 
Demons of every woe and ill, 

That long have cursed my realm, 
The prowess of thy soul and arm 

Did all with ruin whelm. 
Thou art the knight whom God decreed 

Should burst the wizards' spell. 
And crush out all their force and fraud 

They've brought to earth from hell. 
Now wiiat more can I say or do 
Than thank thee, noble knight and true. 



ARTELOISE. 1 Q*J 

And aid thee more of glory win?" 
At this the hoary guide broke in : 
" More glory lie must yet achieve ; 
Fate liira from toil will not relieve. 
Ursula's slumber he mi.st wake, 
And her from Polar demons take; 
And other tasks as dread and grim 
Be wrought, Fate has decreed, by him, 
I am his guide, ordered by Fate 
Him to lead, on him watch and wait. 
Here shortly shall a war be waged. 
Dread as e'er 'tween mortals raged ; 
Heroes shall die hj thousands here. 
And clothe these hills with carnage drear ; 
These hills shall all be dyed with blood. 
And red shall flow each mountain flood. 
Ursula must that carnage see, 
And forward in that slaughter be. 
She shall that day a deed achieve 
That shall this realm of woes relieve. 
But more I cannot tell you now, 
For rigid Fate w-ill not allow. 
Come, let us go to yonder glen. 
And see the slaughtered dragon's den; 
And view the hoards of solid gold. 
That there have lain since ages old." 



VI. 



Into the den the knights have sped. 

Led b}'^ the hoary Jew, 
Where dwelt the dragon grim and dread 

The hero's arm o'erthrew. 



168 ARTELOISE. 

From out the den wealth the}^ bring forth. 

From where it's lain for years. 
Gathered from west, east, south and north, 

Wherever hoard appears. 
Huge was the cavern, broad and long, 

And vast from floor to roof; 
Nine columns tall of solid rock 

From falling kept it proof; 
Its granite walls were wide apart, 

A thousand 3'ards aloof. 
Yet piled was it with golden hoard 

From rocky roof to floor ; 
The shining treasures meet their eyes 

Where'er the knights explore. 
Silver and gold, and precious stones — 

All riches of the world — 
Were promiscuous gathered there, 

In glowing piles were hurled ; 
Mighty thrones, cast in solid gold, 

Set o'er with starry gems ; 
Kings, queens, wrought out of gold, and decked 

With flashing diadems. 
Sat midst foi-ests wrought of gold, 

With diamond kaves and stems ; 
And ever}^ beast that roams the field. 

The mountain, moor or fen ; 
And many a monster, grim and vast. 

Now all unknown to men, 
Had there his likeness cast in gold, 

His lifelike size and mien. 
There camels, lions, elephants, 

With golden steeds, were seen ; 



ARTELOISE. 169 

And every bird that flaps its wings 

Within the realms of space, 
Wrought of pure gold, in lifelike size, 

Was found within that place ; 
And every fish and monster grim, 
That through the depths of ocean swim, 
Was there displayed in perfect trim, 
Of solid gold each form and limb. 
Where'ei* the searching eyes explore 
Are flashing gems and golden ore ; 
Goblets and urns and mighty trays, 
The wealth of kings of other days, 
All wrought of gold, with splendor blaze. 



VII. 



A thousand knights are toiling fast 
To bring away the treasure vast ; 
A thousand knights, with sinews strong 
As those that to the steeds belong, 
With all their strength can scarcely lift, 
Or yet from out their places shift. 
Some of those castings broad and tall ; 
To move them takes the strength of all ; 
Their gathered force assistance needs, 
And levers, fuk-rums, chains and steeds, 
Are brought to aid them bring the hoard 
From out the dragon's cavern broad. 
Upon the wold round Arteloise 
They pile the dragon's shining toys, 
The wealth of Cyclops kings of old, 
Who stored it in that rocky hold ; 
And, spite of human swords and spears, 



no ARTELOISE. 

Had rested there two thousand years. 
While heroes toil to bring this hoard 
From out the cavern deep and broad, 
That cavern lonely, drear and dun, 
And pile it in the blazing sun — 
Heap up a mound of shining ore 
As never sunlight saw before — 
And while Griselda, sheathed in mail, 
With Arthur, guards the Holy Grail, 
The sun has set, and night amain 
Is thickening over hill and plain ; 
The stars displa}^ their glowing sheen. 
And in the east the moon is seen. 
And from the knights and heroes there 
Two forms arc missed, search everywhere. 
» Their departure none can explain — 

One is the Jew, one Beau de Main. 

VIII. 

A barge moored to the ocean's beach 
The hero and his guide soon reach ; 
And in it swift the eager twain 
Go sailing o'er the silent main. 
The air was still, no breezes blew. 
Yet swift across the seas they flew ; 
Their sails were full, as if a gale 
Did them with all its force assail. 
The silent ocean stretched around 
In one calm slumber deep and sound, 
And scarce those silent floods reveal 
A furrow from the plowing keel. 
Yet on and on upon her course 



ARTELOTSE. 1 7 [ 

She sped before some magic force, 
And swifter than a tliin"- of thouaht 
Her flight she o'er the waters sought. 
Onward, o'er floods profound, they di'ew, 
Until two mountains rose in view : 
Abyla, one, that proudl}' stands 
And views the sea from A trie's lands ; 
The other that frowned o'er the main 
"Was Calpe, on the coast of Spain. 
Here, onward through narrowing seas, 
They pass the Pillars of Hercules. 
Onward they speed, and soon they gain 
A spacious and a tranquil main. 
Where the Mediterranean wave 
Doth shores of many nations lave, 
And soon in sight of ^Etna's flame 
The hoary guide and hero came. 
High on the prow the good knight stands, 
And views afar the mountain lands. 
While thus unto his hoary guide 
He speaks : " Let good or ill betide, 
I swore to journey by thy side. 
And reach with thee the Polar main, 
Ursula wake to life again, 
The ci-aft of Polar fiends o'erthrow, 
And crush them from the realm of snow. 
Make all their force to mankind bow. 
If God would me the deed allow. 
But we are sailing fast, I scan. 
To regions of f:ir different plan. 
What does this mean? Come, swift explain 
Why sail we thus this Southern main, 
And see the lights of ^tna glow 



172 ARTELOISE. 

Instead of Polar ice and snow." 

To this the hoary Jew replied : 

" I am by Fate decreed thy guide. 

Henceforth through all thy mortal life, 

Through pleasure, trouble, peace or strife, 

Through every throe of bliss or woes 

That mortal nature feels or knows 

I am thy guide, and 'tis thy fate 

To follow me, on me to wait. 

Did proper faith in thee abide. 

For him who is thy destined guide 

Thou wouldst not ask with haughty air 

And doubting soul, ' Wh}^ sail wc here ? ' 

No matter where on earth I went 

Thy heart and soul should be content, 

And feel the while I did my task. 

And of me none of questions ask. 

But as thy mind is full of doubt, 

I now will turn it inside out, 

Shake from it all that therein be 

And fill it full of faith for me, 

And since we shall together wend 

Until thy race on earth shall end, 

Be we within the rear or van. 

Be thou in every sense a man ; 

TJirough weal or woe, through peace or strife, 

Unflinching grasp the end of Life, 

Pluck mid its thorns the buds and fruit, 

What best thy will or fancy suit, 

What most thj^ nature seems to need. 

Nor let shadows of the Future feed 

And fatten as may suit their greed 

Upon the substance and the wealth 



ARTELOISE. 1 73 

Of the present, nor sap its health. 

Revel in pleasures well thy soul, 

Yet keep those pleasures in control. 

I trust we two shall undei'stand 

Each other well, and hand in hand 

Keep upon our destined way, 

Nor feel a doubt by night or day 

Of any careless word or deed 

That may from either one proceed. 

Have faith in me is all I ask 

And thou'lt accomplish every task, 

I guide thee now from haunts of men 

Unto the mighty Cyclops' den ; 

We soon shall pass the sullen gorge 

That leads to Vulcan's roaring forge, 

And armor he for thee shall make 

No force of fiend nor man can break, 

No frost shall crack, no spear shall pierce, 

However dread the foe and fierce. 

The arms that now thy form invest. 

Though strong as ever hero dressed, 

And are most pleasing to the eye, 

Would all to smallest atoms fly 

If ever midst the Polar snow 

The icy blasts on them should blow, 

And any demon's sword or spear 

Its force should e'er against them bear. 

To ?vage with it 'gainst them a strife 

Would cost thee swift thy fame and life. 

By Vulcan must thy arms be wrought 

Ere war with Polar fiends is sought. 

The tempered steel he only makes 

That never Polar demon breaks ; 



Hi ARTELOISE. 

The arms no demon's sword nor spear 
Can cleave or 3'et asunder tear." 



IX. 



While thus they spoke they reached the gorge 

That led to Vulcan's flaming forge. 

Right through the mountain's open side 

The ocean forced its rushing tide, 

And onward swift as light or thought 

The barge the forge of Vulcan sought. 

Down, down on waters swift and vast 

The barge by seething whirlpools past 

Until it reached the rocky gorge 

Where flamed on high grim Vulcan's forge. 

High on his dusty iron throne 

The mighty monarch sat alone ; 

His shagg}' brows with dust were grim, 

And dust lay on each shaggy limb. 

As some huge column, damp and rust, 

Doth Avith a scaly garb o'er crust, 

O'er his vast form was sweat and dust. 

His flowing tresses, black as night, 

Hid half his features from the sight, 

And o'er his breast and shoulders broad 

They flowed in vast, enormous hoard. 

Like beams of steel his thewy arms 

Displa3^ed their Cyclopean charms. 

His mighty hands a vigor showed 

Which is alone to gods bestowed. 

And only by those gods is shared 

Who midst toil and temperance are reared ♦ 

Athwart his brow his hand he drew, 



ARTELOISE. 175 

From off his face his locks he threw, 
Beneath his forge's flaming light 
Displayed his features to the sight. 
Comelier head and nobler brow 
Did ne'er before a god endow. 
Sublime he looked in form and limb ; 
Immortal grandeur breathed in him. 
In his mild e^e and noble face 
A kindly soul the knight could trace ; 
On that vast visage robed with hair 
Good nature kept her chosen lair, 
And seem'd there beam'd from it the while 
A rising or a smothered smile. 
Swift from the barge the hero trod 
And with his guide approached the god, 
But ere they reached his iron throne 
The monarch spoke in kindly tone. 

X. 

" T know thy wants, know all the cause, 
Sir Knight, that here thy presence draws, 
And I for thee will forge the steel 
That sheathes thy form from head to heel 
In such strong plates of tempered mail 
That shall no foe with hurt assail. 
Sir Knight, thee I will make the lord 
Of such an axe and spear and sword 
As never yet were grasped b}' man 
Since on the earth his race began. 
And such a casque thy head shall wear 
As never did to man appear. 
And I will make thee such a targe 



176 ARTELOISE. 

To pierce it vainly foes shall charge. 

In every climate 'neath the sun 

Where breezes blow or waters run, 

Where southern suns terrific glow. 

And metals force to molten flow, 

Where winter wraps the Polar main 

In bondage with its icy chain, 

Those arms by climate all unchanged — 

No atom of them disarranged — 

Shall still remain wher e'er thej'^ go, 

Whate'er the clime, whate'er the fue, 

And e'en the lustre of thy mail 

Shall make the fiercest foeman quail." 

So smiling spake the mighty god, 

And to his flaming furnace trod, 

Where stacks on stacks in grim repose 

Huge as a ridge of mountains rose. 

A mighty door he open threw 

And his vast works disclosed to view. 

The knight through all the place immense 

Gazed with a wonder deep, intense, 

For vast machines with mighty wheels 

From end to end the place reveals, 

And tools of every shape and size 

With wonder mute the hero eyes. 

Soon Vulcan touched a secret sprin ;• 

And motion sprang to everything ; 

Straight at the touch seem'd all things fraUj^ht 

With attributes of life and thought : 

All things an inspiration caught 

That were with instant motion wrought ; 

Then, obedient to his call, 

Came forth three Cyclops giants tall ; 



ARTELOTSE. 177 

Arges, Brontes and Steropes came 
Soon as the god called forth each name. 
Each all their days in steel had wrought, 
His skill to them had Vulcan taught ; 
Each well the tongs or sledge could wield 
And forge the spear, the helm or shield ; 
No armor used by mortal man 
Or gods but what those three could plan, 
Nor missile e'er in battle thrown 
But what unto those three was known. 
The thunderbolts their wisdom formed 
When gods in angry warfare stormed, 
And when grim Briareus strove 
To overwhelm the might of Jove, 
Skiird in all craft of forging steel, 
And ever unto Vulcan leal, 
They forged the arms of gods and men. 
And waked with sound his mighty den. 
From Coelus and Terra sprung their birth, 
Nor feared they aught on sky or earth. 



xr. 



From forge to forge, whence roaring flame 
Like streams from grim volcanoes came. 
And vast showers of sparks fell round. 
With blinding light and hissing sound. 
Those three enormous Cyclops flew 
And in the flames the metals threw. 
Swift from the stacks the molten ore 
Doth into huge converters pour. 
Then swift on it a mighty blast. 
Of freezing air is constant cast ; 

12 



178 ARTELOISE. 

It rushes through the spacious tuyeres, 

And it to purest metal rears. 

Then swift they search each huge retort, 

And metal from the dross they sort. 

Through crushing rollers swift 'tis brought 

And into solid metal wrought. 

And then the flowing ore assumes 

The statel}^ structure of the blooms. 

Again the blooms with flame are tried 

Until no dross is there espied. 

Through melting flame and freezing l)last 

Again, again tlie steel is past. 

Till all from dross is doubly pure, 

And all is tempered true and sure. 

Then mighty bars of red-hot steel 

They pass from crushing wheel to wheel ; 

Then, swung upon a mighty crane. 

They bear it to the flame again ; 

There bring it to a snow-white heat, 

Then it upon the anvils beat 

With sledges of gigantic size, 

Whose blows like loudest thunders rise. 

Again, with tongs and swinging crane. 

They cast it midst the flames amain ; 

The bellows roar, the flames arise, 

And all save metal from it flies. 

Then on the anvil swift they shape 

The arms that shall the hero drape. 

Then Vulcan spoke : " Thy body bare 

Of that frail mortal mail you wear, 

O'er thee we'll brace an armor on 

Fit for a god himself to don." 

Swift from his form, from head to heel, 



ARTELOISE. 179 

The hero doffed his clanging steel, 

And bared as strong and perfect form 

Of man as e'er felt shine or storm. 

TJie Cyclops smiths with wonder view 

Tag symmetry of limb and thew, 

The swelling chest and shoulders broad 

That showed of strength a matchless hoard. 

Such limbs and thews the hero wore 

Had never met their gaze before. 

His mighty shoulders first they sheathe 

Wish plates that round and round him Avreathe ; 

With triple care his brawny breast 

With flashing plates of steel is drest ; 

Down o'er his form unto his thighs 

The}' fit the plates of wondrous size ; 

In blazing steel his legs they case, 

Thick layers o'er the joints they place ; 

Then all the foot, from toe to lieel, 

They case in adamantine steel ; 

Then straight a flashing casque they wrouaiit 

That was with strange devices fraught ; 

From purest steel the helm was made. 

And all with burnished gold inlaid. 

The hero's head the morion Avears, 

The polished visor next appears ; 

With care within its grooves 'tis placed. 

By cords of steel securely laced ; 

Collars of adamantine mail 

Guard sure his throat from foe's assail ; 

Then next, round as the maiden moon 

When full in all her prime of noon. 

Or sun in his empyrean field, 

They shape the hero's massive shield. 



180 ARTELOISE. 

Seven layers of purest steel 
Dense as did sledge and anvil feel 
In thickness vast compose the shield, 
While yet, to vaster sureness yield, 
'Gainst flying shaft or driven spear, 
Or harm that heat or cold can rear. 
Vast fleecy hides as white as snow- 
Are placed in order row on row — 
Between the shining plates are laid. 
And all the space between invade. 
Then press'd together close and hard, 
By weight immense the whole is barred 
Secure together, strong and fast. 
By bolts and screws and rivets vast. 
Then next a mighty boss they reared, 
Which on its centre grim appeared, 
Then on the inward disc they weld 
The rings, with many a blow impelled. 
By which it on the arm is held. 
The shield, complete in make and strength. 
Through all its thickness, breadth and leno-t!i 
The searching eyes of Vulcan view ; 
His chisel o'er its face he drew ; 
Engraving strange that mighty shield 
Soon wore o'er all its ample field ; 
Strange scenes where e'er his chisel goes 
Like magic o'er the surface rose. 
First on the shining field he drcAv 
The heavens and all the stars we view ; 
There shone in calm and bright array 
The sun and moon and milky way ; 
Shot from the sun, the comets burn'd, 
Or flaming-, back to him returned ; 



ARTELOISE. 181 

The distant systems rose to sight, 

With suns and moons and planets bright ; 

Then far below the earth he drew 

Its oceans, mountains rose to view ; 

Its rivers rush, its torrents flow, 

The sunshine gleams, the tempests blow ; 

O'er wold and dell the forests grow ; 

In air their stately heads they throw. 

Then clouds he drew, as if to robe 

With floating mists the spacious globe ; 

The sun o'er these his lustre throws, 

And splendor o'er the broad shield glows. 

In living motion oceans roll'd. 

The hues of silver and of gold, 

And over mountain, glen and wold 

They stretched their bright, transparent fold. 

Vast harvest fields with ripened grain 

With sickle showed the reaper train. 

And fields of corn in waving rows 

Beneath the artist's chisel grows ; 

The purple vineyards deck the shield. 

And grapes hang vast o'er hill and field ; 

Then mighty heads in pastures green 

Upon the massive targe are seen ; 

O'er skipping lambs and grazing sheep 

Their careful watch the shepherds keep. 

Then swift unto the hero's view 

Vast jungles o'er the buckler grew ; 

The lion, bear and tiger grim 

Seem'd there alive in form and limb ; 

Huge elephants their trunks uprear, 

And moving on the shield appear, 

And mighty monsters, now unknown 



182 ARTELOISE. 

To man, were on that buckler shown ; 

Round some their coils dread serpents wreatheo 

And seem'd they struggled and they breathed. 

A city next the artist graved, 

Whose streets with shining gold were paved, 

High rose the massive walls around, 

With battlements and turrets crown'd ; 

Upon these walls, all dread to view, 

By Vulcan's hand an army grew ; 

The shield and sword and bristling spear 

Vast, dense o'er all those walls appear ; 

Besieged the city seems ; below 

The plains with moving armies glow ; 

Huge battering-rams he swiftly form'd, 

And seem'd those walls those engines storm 'd ; 

Wide breaches in the walls were made, 

Through which the troops the town invade ; 

Grim piles of slaughter throng the streets, 

Everywhere the eye but ruin meets ; 

Children and women, old and young, 

With men are midst the carnage flung ; 

Lie son and sire, mother, daughter, 

In promiscuous piles of slaughter. 

The victors from the cit}' lead 

Their captive maids o'er field and mead ; 

Then seemed an all-engulfing flame 

Around throughout that city came ; 

Beneath its force the city falls — 

Palaces, battlements and walls. 

And naught but ashes, gray and pale, 

Are left to tell its dreadful tale. 

Another city swift arose ; 

Round it the azure ocean flows, 



ARTELOISE. 183 

And ships unnumbered o'er its waves 
The artist's sicillful hand engraves ; 
All, all those seas are white with sails 
They glide where e'er the flood prevails. 
Vast wharves and piers, secure from storm, 
Safe harbors round that city form ; 
O'er these his hand the artist casts — 
Straight bristle there unnumbered masL. , 
And all around on either hand 
Stand moored the ships of everj^ land, 
And every nation of the world 
Has there its standard sheet unfurled, 
And men of every clime and race 
That ever trod the earth's broad face 
In busy hives that city throng, 
And all to peaceful calls belong; 
No strife nor discord there is found 
Through all that city's ample round ; 
They sell or buy in crowded marts 
The wares or works of peaceful arts. 
And thro.ugh that city peace and mirth 
Spring up in spontaneous birth. 
Far from that city, vast to view, 
An ocean into icebergs grew ; 
Fixed as the hills or rocky plain, 
So solid seem'd that frozen main. 
A stately vessel thrall'd in ice, 
Secure as steel in Vulcan's vice. 
High on the floes displayed its form, 
Unwrecked by frost or Polar storm; 
Upon the deck the sailors stand. 
Froze stark and dead,. a ghastly bund. 
But deep within that vessel's hold. 



184 ARTELOISE. 

White as the whitest frost on wold, 

Is seen a lovely female form 

That sleeps unscathed by cold or storm ; 

A wondrous form, whose features smile, 

As though she joyous dreamed the while. 

Another town the artist forms, 

Exempt from war and blast and storms ; 

No walls around the city stand. 

But purple vine^-ards crown the land ; 

Vast fields of wheat and waving corn 

That city's fertile realms adorn, 

And scenes of joy and mirth and peace 

Seem ever round it to increase ; 

With plenty all the land is crown 'd ; 

Whatever good for man is found, 

Or beast, where e'er we gaze around 

Spring spontaneous from the ground ; 

By winding streams, through leafy shades 

The shepherds lead their smiling maids ; 

In endless peace and safety too 

In hall or grove their loves they woo ; 

And over all that city's round, 

O'er all its l)road and ample bound, 

Is naught but pleasing pleasures found 

In every turn and sight and sound. 

Another scene the artist drew ; 

A mighty dragon rose in view ; 

Vast was his head and huge his jaws, 

His limbs immense, with horrid claws, 

And from his throat a flood of flame 

Red as is blood eternal came ; 

O'er all his hide a horny scale 



ARTELOISE. 185 

Was placed like plates of hardest mail, 
And mighty rows of teetli were seen 
The monster's horrid jaws between. 
Another scene the eye engaged, 
The beast with man a combat waged ; 
A knight all sheathed from head to heel 
In glowing panoply of steel 
His flaming falchion drove amain, 
And cleft the monster grim in twain. 
High on its form the hero stands, 
And treads it in the gory sands ; 
To ruin trod, it sinks from view. 
Anil where it died a lloAver grew. 
Tlie shield complete in every part. 
Adorned with all of A^nlcan's art^ 
The monarch of the flaming forge. 

Whose flames but purest steel disgorge, 

Unto the knight the vast targe bore, 

And soon his arm the buckler wore. 

The hero, sheathed from head to heel, 

A mighty column seemed of steel, 

A tower vast, sure built of mail 

That vainly might all foes assail. 

Behind his shield the hero's frame 

Far broader seem'd, more tall became. 

Then o'er his mail and massive shield 

A wand the hands of Vulcan wield, 

And straight from all his arms a light 

Of blinding blaze, redundant bright. 

Shot forth in never ending gleam, 

And did from all his buckler beam. 

Then Vulcan spoke : " Thy armor's sheen 



186 ARTELOISE. 

Shall last while leaves and vintage green 
Are known and seen in summer's prime, 
And know no change through wear of time. 
The dazzling lustre of thy mail 
Shall all thy foes with fear assail." 
Then swift an axe and sword and spear 
Those smiths upon their anvils rear. 
First a ponderous axe they wrought, 
Then to the knight a spear they brought. 
Fast from a bloom of purest steel, 
Refined as e'er did Yulcan feel. 
With sounds that make all ^tna reel 
And rock with ringing blows they deal, 
They forge for him a mighty sword 
Of surface bi'ight and long and broad. 
Bellows roar, llames to whiteness burn ; 
"With tongs in llames the mass they turn ; 
Through rollers vast the mass is brought, 
And into flatter structure wrought. 
By turns the steel they cool or heat, 
And it upon the anvils beat. 
With blows tliat shake the forges round 
And like incessant thunders sound 
They wrought for him the breukless sword. 
The adamantine falchion broad. 
The hilt witli starry gems is crown'd. 
And Hash a blinding brightness round. 
The sword complete, in sheath is placed, 
And soon the hero's hand it graced : 
The sword that soon its way should take 
Through every mail of mortal make, 
Beneath whose weight all foes should reel 
And die, the adamantine steel. 



ARTELOISE. 187 



Xll. 



But ere unto the hero's hand 

Wise Vulcan gave the new-made brand, 

To prove its strength and tempered edge 

He lifts from earth an iron wedge 

Of structure hard, compact and dense, 

Of size enormous, weight immense ; 

The wedge he on the anvil laid, 

Then grasps the new-made, shining blade; 

High o'er his head the sword he swings, 

Down on the wedge its edge he brings. 

Unto the blow he gave such strength 

The wedge was cut through all its length ; 

Nor stopped at this the mighty sword, 

Down through the anvil tall and broad 

Like lightning past the edge amain, 

The ponderous anvil' cleft in twain : 

Parted the solid structures lie. 

Along its edge the searching eye 

And hand of skillful Vulcan ran 

Nor flaw along its edge could scan. 

All, all its edge was perfect, keen, 

And as is blinding leven-sheen 

When through the gloom of darkness driven ; 

Then to the knight the sword was given. 

'Twas Vulcan's hand the blade bestowed, 

And thus his voice his feelings showed : 

" Since ever forge or furnace glowed 

And metals from their heat have flowed 

No mightier panoply of steel 

Has sheathed a knight from head to heel. 

Speed on thy way, perform each task 



188 ARTELOISE. 

That Fate shall of thy prowess ask ; 

Honor high Heaven with all thy soul, 

Let naught thy love for God control 

Whatever place by thee be trod, 

For all thy glory is from God. 

For true glory only draw this blade, 

And Vulcan's toil is well reiiaid." 

He ceased, and from his vast abode 

The hoary guide and hero strode ; 

They reach the torrent's sounding marge; 

Their footsteps tread the stately barge, 

And soon they pass the sullen gorge 

That leads to earth from Vulcan's forge. 

Once more upon the ocean wide 

They Etna's flaming peak espied. 

By lands of bloom and scented isles 

O'er which the moon in splendor smiles 

The barge sails on, nor breezes waits, 

And passes soon again the straits. 

Into the wide Atlantic sails. 

And soon the shores of Norway hails ; 

O'er the dread maelstrom, white with foam. 

Still ever onward North they roam ; 

North, ever North they onward sail 

Until the Polar seas they hail, 

The mountains vast of ice and snow, 

Where ever-freezing tempests blow. 

XIII. 

Moor'd midst the cliffs of gleaming ice. 

The Polar spirits' paradise, 

Soon quit the barge the eager twain 



ARTELOISE. 180 

And journey o'er the frozen main ; 

They reached a pile of mighty lialls, 

Ice was the roof and ice the widls, 

Through windows of transparent ice 

Clearer than glass, with strange device 

Wrought over all their vast expanre, 

The lights from moon and stars advance; 

Their sheen strikes on the gleaming walls, 

This refraction into motion calls 

And one transmitting splendor falls 

From place to place through all those halls. 

Within the place was bright as day 

When Sol at noontide pours his ray, 

And not a cloud is seen to march 

Through all the clear, ethereal arch. 

With scanning eyes the knight proceeds, 

Follows his guide where e'er he leads ; 

Around where e'er his vision strays 

He relics sees of former days ; 

In crystal ice embedded fast. 

As they had been for ages past, 

Were seen the forms of monsters grim 

And perfect all in form and limb 

As when alive tliey stalked the world 

Ere freezing floods were round them hurl'd. 

Many still seem'd endowed with breath. 

As if they ne'er yet felt of death. 

Some monsters were of form and limb 

Tremendous, horrible and grim, 

Tall as the oaks the forests grow, 

Such stately height their bodies show, 

And of proportioned breadth and length, 

And limbs that shoAved not aught but strength. 



;90 ARTELOISE. 

Dread monsters these of ancient time 
Ere man walked on this eartlalj- clime, 
Whose traces only here are found 
Throughout creation's spacious round. 
Lifelike through floods they seem to swim 
And stretch afar each mighty limb. 
On scenes like these the hero's gaze 
Is fixed in astonishment, amaze, 
But stranger sights shall meet his view 
Ere he has searched those ice halls through, 
And greater wonders of the olden time 
Shall rise from out that realm of rime, 
Wonders on earth forever lost, 
Or found but in this realm of frost. 
Onward they go through mighty caves 
Formed out of high and sparkling waves 
» That yet retained their rolling forms, 

As if they still were ruled by storms ; 
In ridges all the waves are tost, 
As ere fettered by the wand of frost, 
Each mighty trough and lofty crest 
With sparkling wreaths of foam are d rest. 
So lifelike seem'd those waves to roll 
Still look they 'neath the storm's control. 
Fettered amidst the frozen flood 
Were mighty forms of flesh and blood ; 
Many a shape well known to man, 
And some his eye shall never scan. 
Lions and bears and bulls and steeds 
And all earth's beasts of varied breeds : 
But not a trace was seen of man 
Where'er the hero's gaze could scan. 
What seem'd most resemble human kind 



ARTELOISE. 191 

Midst all the wonders he could find 
Were forms of long and snake-like plan, 
Whose heads and faces looked like man ; 
Two horns from every head arose, 
And sharp, fell points those horns disclose , 
Three eyes in every face were seen, 
That dreadful flowed their horns between; 
Huge teeth in sharp and horrid rows 
Did every open mouth disclose; 
But neither legs nor arms they bore, 
And gleaming scales their bodies wore. 
Though chained in ice and void of breath 
Terrific looked those forms in death. 
Each beast seem'd starting from his place, 
War in his e^^e, war in his face, 
And held aloft his scaly tail 
In act to guard or foe assail. 
Still onward through unnumbered caves 
Form'd out of frozen floods and waves, 
Midst wonders strange that eager twain 
Explore and view the Polar main. 
Surrounded by vast cliflTs of ice, 
Wide open seas their e^^es entice, 
Where rapid floods whirl round and round. 
A maelstrom in its flow and sound ; 
And while they here the waters scan 
This speech the hoary guide began : 
" Back in the dim and distant past, 
Ere the flight of centuries vast. 
Beneath these wastes of ice and snow 
The earth did fertile regions show. 
Where science and the arts excelled. 
And man a grand dominion held ; 



192 ARTELOISE. 

Here vast and mighty cities rose, 
And tliem did lofty walls enclose ; 
Palaces, toAvers and marble halls, 
Super!) of structure, vast of walls ; 
Gardens suspended high in air 
That ever bloomed with verdure fair, 
Where every tree and flower grew 
That e'er the realm of nature knew, 
Where fountains rose in columns tall, 
Then arching fell, and showers fall 
From them of gentle spray and rain 
O'er all the gardens' fair domain. 
Here war and peace their seasons knew, 
And trade and commerce flourished too. 
But sin and sloth and every crime 
Yet brought unto these realms of time 
Besieged the spirits of the race 
That erst had god-like ruled the place, 
And lured them onward to their doom 
Swift as the wreck on the simoom. 
Virtue was gone and sin was strong. 
And all that did to vice belong. 
Only those paths those mortals trod 
That would oflTend and anger God. 
Sudden as ever wild bird flew 
From fowler's hand, a tempest grew ; 
The noonda}^ sun was hid from sight, 
And all was draped in densest night. 
As do yon roaring eddies run 
The air around in whirlpools spun, 
And sounds amidst the solid gloom 
Around like ceaseless thunders boom. 
But loud o'er these, teirific, fierce, 



ARTELOISE. J 93 



The shrieks of men the darkness pierce, 

Cries of fear, distress and pain 

Like roaring whirl v^inds sweep amain, 

And roars and growls from ever^- beast 

That ever 3'et on flesli did feast, 

That ever loved the taste of blood 

Or sucked from man liis vital flood, 

There, there to one grim carnage fly, 

And men and women 'neath them die. 

Every grim, devouring beast 

On man or woman makes liis feast. 

Swift here and there for arms they fly, 

Alas for them ! no arms are nigh ; 

No weapons find they in the gloom 

With which to stay awhile their doom. 

To fly is death, to pause or wait 

The same ; the monsters' rage and hate 

Is theirs alone ; to ask of Fate 

For mercy is too late, too late. 

Children, men and women fall, 

Devouring monsters swallow all, 

Till o'er the nation's ample round 

No likeness of a man is found. 

Thus died they 'neath the liand of God, 

And onl}^ beasts tliut country trod. 

Sudden the face of all that land 

Went sinking down, and o'er its strand 

From marge to marge of tliis vast realm 

The rising seas the whole o'erwhelm ; 

The floods in dread commotion flow, 

And bu:y deep the realm below. 

And every beast upon it found 

Is midst the roaring billows drown'd. 

13 



194 ARTELOTSE. 

While flow the surges broad and tall 

The icy chains the billows thrall, 

The Polar spirit o'er them crost 

And froze them into solid frost. 

And thus amidst this frozen flood 

Were cast these forms of flesh and blood. 

The souls of those the monsters slew 

Far from the light of day withdrew ; 

Forever thralled with grim despair, 

Dwell in caves of intramundane air. 

For ages did they dwell in pain, 

For water, thirsting, shrieked amain. 

Till God did them with pity view, 

And half their woes from them Avithdrew ; 

For them the solid globe He split, 

And by them form'd a mighty pit ; 

Down it these rushing waters flow 

And drink to those poor souls bestow. 

And here these floods shall onward rush 

Till God shall all their fury hush, 

And here these icy peaks shall stand 

Eternal as the rocky land 

Till He shall all of Nature change, 

And all its atoms rearrange. 

From whence these ceaseless waters flow 

Man knows not and shall never know." 



XIV. 

He ceased, then towards a cavern dread 
Of gleaming ice in haste they tread, 
From whence a surging sound was sent, 
As of vast angry waters pent. 



ARTELOISE. 195 

And from the cave a hollow voice 

Spake loud : " It has been our choice 

And will alid wish since time began 

To live apart, alone from man, 

And never tread the hated shore 

That foot of man or woman bore. 

We loathe, detest and scorn the breed 

Of man, yes, every race and creed. 

So what cause brings ye mortals here ? 

Back, back to your own distant si)here, 

Or feel the Polar spirits' might ! " 

To this replied King Arthur's knight: 

" I came to search these realms of ice 

For Merlin's child, and twice, yes, thrice 

All force that Polar spirits own 

Shall by this arm be overthrown 

But what from here the maid I'll bring 

Unto the halls of Britain's king. 

Merlin again his child shall see 

In spite of all thy fiends and thee." 

To this the hollow ^ oice replied : 

" Then let force her fate decide, 

If from us she is sundered wide 

Or here doth still with me abide.^' 

Then from behind a wall of mist 

That glow'd like sunlit amethjst 

Broad and tOAvering forms appear, 

All armed with sword and axe and spear, 

Grim weapons of enormous mass 

And bright as sun-illumined glass. 

Their forms are sheathed from head to heel 

In icy mail more bright than steel, 

And over all their helms of ice 



196 ARTELOISE. 

Gleam'd lofty plumes of strange device. 
Down on the knight in dread career 
The foremost drove his massive spear, 
Full on his shield he caught the blow, 
Firm as a rock the mountains show ; 
With such fell force that spear was sent 
It on the shield to atoms went, 
With flying splinters fill'd the air 
And noises loud and grim and drear. 
Swift as the speed of tropic storm 
The knight sped at the mighty form, 
Down on his helm the axe he drove 
And helm and head asunder clove, 
Nor stopped the axe at this, down far 
It past, swift as a falling star ; 
Through all the form in ice arrayed 
Its way the gleaming weapon made. 
Parted, the shape enormous falls, 
With sound that deafens and appalls ; 
Upon the icy floor it lies 
And to a million atoms flies. 
Then from the forms in icy mail 
There burst a universal wail, 
And cries of grief and rage and pain 
Rose like the shrieking of the main 
When spirits of the tropic storm 
With foamy waves its floods deform 
And all the wraiths to ocean known 
Are into writhing anguish thrown. 
Another form to combat came, 
Swift mo^ed the grim, enormous frame, 
By grief and rage and hate impelled ; 
High o'er his head an axe he held 



AETELOISE. lOT 

Of weight immense and structure vast, 
ind bright as flame from furnace cast. 
Down on the helm that Vulcan wrought 
The might}' axe the demon brought ; 
Unharmed the casque received the blow ; 
The axe did into fragments go. 
Nor to the blow the hero bends, 
But swift on high his axe ascends, 
Down on the fiend its edge he drives, 
Another fiend asunder rives. 
The riven form terrific falls 
In splinters o'er those icy halls. 
Another shape of mighty strength. 
Dreadful in breadth as well as length, 
Tlaming with rage, his falchion drew. 
And at the knightJike lightning flew. 
Dread on the knight the sword descends 
With crashing sound, like that when blends 
The thunder's boom and earthquake's jar 
And billows wash a rocky bar 
And all the fiends of storm and blast 
Their shriekings on the tempest cast. 
Nor to the blows the hero reeled ; 
On high he rear'd his shining shield. 
And swift he made his mighty spear 
Through his grim foeman's bosom tear. 
Through gleaming mail the weapon tore, 
Throngh heart and lungs and vital gore 
And all that stood its path before. 
Past through a yard behind and more. 
Forth from the breast the spear he drew, 
The horrid wound disclosed to view ; 
Prone on the earth the demon fell, 



198 ARTELOISE. 

With crashing sound and dying yell. 

A thousand shapes in icy mail 

With spears and swords the knight assail, 

But vain is all the war they wage, 

He quells their fur}', force and rage ; 

In vain they close the hero round 

With noise of shock and jars of sound ; 

Where e'er they charged, where e'er they drew, 

His sword in flaming circles flew, 

And fast their numbers smaller grew; 

They waste away like morning dew 

When on it like a gleaming lance 

The splendors of the sun advance. 

The strife is done, no moving foe 

The whole vast cave of ice can show, 

But far away o'er icy peaks 

Is heard the flying foemen's shrieks 

With savage curse and groan and yell 

They fly o'er icy cliff" and dell. 

XV. 

The cave the twain rove as they list, 
Pass round the wall of gleaming mist, 
And right behind this wondrous wall 
Tiiere rose a small but gaudy hall ; 
Here on a couch in slumber laid 
A form superb, a mortal maid. 
Dark was her hair as is the night 
"When never planet shed its light ; 
Her comely face was sweet and fair 
As ever fanned by vital air ; 
From crown to waist, from waist to feet, 



ARTELOISE. 199 

The maid was loveliness complete. 
Sheathed was the maid in icy mail, 
And o'er her face was ic}'^ veil, 
But so transparent was tiie sheath 
It plainly showed the face beneath. 
Beneath her couch the hero spies 
A robe that there half hidden lies, 
A robe such as might huntress wear 
When she Avould in the chase appear. 
Along her face his hand he drew 
And from her face the ice veil threw. 
From off her form the ice he broke, 
And from her sleep Ursula woke. 
Roused from the sleep that she had slept, 
Which o'er her Polar fiends had kept 
In spite of Merlin's praters and tears 
For full six hundred fleeting 3'ears, 
With parted lips and straining 63x8, 
Bewildered with a strange surprise, 
Around her searching gaze she threw 
On everything that met her view. 
And soon again the maiden wore 
The garb that she had worn of 3'ore, 
When on that distant, fatal day 
She fell the Polar spirits' prey. 

XVI. 

All was accomplished, finished now 
That Fate or force would there allow ; 
No need to roam those realms of snow 
And fight or chase the demon foe. 
Back to the barge in eager haste 



200 ARTELOISE. 

They journey o'er the frozen waste, 

That gleamed far as the e3e could view, 

Where e'er the roaming vision drew, 

In waving lustre, Winding bright 

As sunlit sopes of chrAsolite 

The seaman sees with dazzled gaze 

Far off on slopes of Greenland blaze. 

XVII. 

The barge is reached, and swift the three 
With rapture leave the Polar sea ; 
Some friendly spirit fills their sails 
With ever-onward speeding gales ; 
Some spirit the barge's keel below 
Drives it more fleet than storm can blow. 
O'er billows tall it makes its way 
And round it flies tiie cool salt spray, 
Which fills Avith mist the realms of space 
And kissing laves Ursula's face. 
On, on, in never-ending race. 
Behind the billows vainly chase ; 
Both wave and wind with all their speed 
The barge doth thrice in flight outlead. 
By frozen shores and icy isles, 
Where scarcely e'er the sunlight smiles, 
Where spirits of the Polar clime 
Move grimly o'er the fields of rime. 
Where all with white is overcast 
By fleecy snow-flakes falling fast, 
And high in air each spirit makes 
A pathway of the falling flakes 
And, like meteors of the night, 



ARTELOISE. 201 



Descend with misty trails of light, 
That far away through darkness sail, 
White as a maiden's bridal veil, 
While o'er the flying barge they throw 
A pure, white robe of fleecy snow. 
By frozen shores and icy isles 
The wind the fleeting barge beguiles 
To where a milder climate smiles, 
And soon again on Britain's shore 
The flying barge again they moor. 

PART YI. 



As to the pier the barge was moor'd 
O'er rippling seas the sun up soar'd. 
And niglit with all its mists Avas hurl'd 
In splendor from the sleeping world. 
To highest realms of ether rose, 
Where sunlight could its charms disclose. 
And over all a glory throw 
More bright than e'en the sun could show. 
So seems on earth the mortal maid 
When in virtue's cliarms arrayed, 
When kind of heart and chaste of soul, 
And pureness all her thoughts control, 
. She walks amidst the light of life 
As either maiden, mother, wife ; 
No gloom that Fate can round her throw 
But latent glory there shall glow 
Soon as her sun, the soul of man 
Shall rise and her pure heaven span ; 



202 ARTELOISE, 

The more of beams his spirit throws, 
And sunlight to her soul bestows, 
The more divine her nature glows, 
And pureness from her spirit flows, 
Till she shall far more dazzling glow 
Than source whence all her glories flow, 
Like sunlit clouds in distant space, 
That far out-beam the sun's own face. 
If e'er on earth was woman's soul 
Where vicious passions held control, 
Where envy, hatred, vice and sin 
Ruled all her form and soul within, 
'Twas man who thus her nature wrought, 
And all her soul with vileness fraught ; 
Instead of light he darkness threw 
ThroTigh all her soul, until it grew 
Dark as the source from which it drew 
All thought and feeling that it knew. 
If not for him she would have stood 
Sublime in virtue, chaste and good 
As God at first made womanhood. 

n. 

The shore was reached and from the barge 
The good knight bore his lovely charge, 
Ursula, whose transcendent charms 
Of yore had roused the world to arms ; 
Ursula, who to win as bride 
Unnumbered knights in war had died; 
The fairest maid of every clime 
That Fate had seen since birth of time. 
Wide as the morn its golden beams 



ARTELOISE. 203 

Extends o'er space and hills and streams, 
So wide o'er earth Ursula's fame 
For beauty to all heroes came. 
To isles remote and lands scarce known 
The glories of her charms were blown ; 
For beauty was the maid renowned 
Where waters flowed or land was found, 
Or where the voice of praise could sound, 
And from all lands the world around 
To Britain's shores the heroes drew 
The all transcendent maid to view, 
And her to woo and win as bride ; 
And if to them the maid denied 
Her love, chen in the tourney grim 
For her they'd risk both life and limb. 
And oft for her transcendent charms 
Unnumbered heroes died in arms ; 
For her the earth w^as drenched with blood, 
And was crimsoned many a flood. 
But on one day the Fates decreed 
That man should of the maid be freed. 
A thousand knights in mail arrayed 
In tourney stood for that fair maid ; 
Nine hundred of those heroes bold 
In death upon the earth were rolled ; 
The rest were falling void of breath, 
'Mongst steeds and heroes grim in death ; 
And at the ghastly scene the while 
Ursula gazes with a smile, 
Nor raises once her hand nor breath 
To stop the grisly work of death. 
Two heroes of enormous frame, 
Whose gleaming armor slione like flame, 



204 ABTELOISE. 

Together in the tourney came. 
Both kings for prowess wide renown'd 
As ever yet on earth were crown'd, 
Their glory did o'er earth redound 
Where e'er a liuman voice was found, 
Their prowess and their knightly worth 
Was sung o'er all the spacious earth. 
One came from out the Isle of Mist, 
Where tempests wander as they list, 
And clothe with foam the stormy seas 
That thunder round the Hebrides. 
'Twas said the hero drew his birth 
From ocean wraith and genie of the earth, 
Who embraced upon that stormy isle 
While* foam roared white for many a mile. 
And that all daring of the storm and wave 
They to the issue of their union gave. 
The Storm King claimed him at his birth. 
Reared him midst giants of the earth, 
Fiird his soul with prowess and with worth, 
All knightly deeds tliat man can prize 
Or favor find in woman's eyes ; 
And wheresoe er the hero roam'd. 
O'er land, o'er seas that slept or foam'd. 
The Storm King ever round him dwelled 
And from him every harm repelled ; 
Woe to the hand in peace or strife 
At day or night should seek his life ; 
Though all unseen, the Storm King's arm 
Was ever there to shield from harm ; 
Upon his mail the lance would speed 
And shatter like a doated reed. 
All vain at him was* weapon flung 



ARTELOISE. 205 

Who from the wraith and genie sprung. 

Trenmor was the wondrous hero called 

In tales and songs of bard and scald ! 

In a far distant, Northern isle, 

Where half the year no sunbeams smile, 

Where spirits of the Polar clime 

Their orgies hold in halls of rime, 

The other had been born and bred, 

His life in toils of battle led. 

From Thor, sb ancient bards have sung, 

And Polar nymph the hero sprung. 

He was the fruit of their embrace. 

And looked like both in Ibrm and face. 

In mighty halls of frozen snow 

The twain did Fate together throw. 

Long dwelt they in those halls of ice, 

For charms of each did each entice. 

Fair was the nymph in form and face, 

By Nature framed with every grace 

That yet belonged to Beauty's race ; 

Her form, though vast of size and tall, 

Was harmony throughout it all ; 

Her heaving breast and white, round arms 

Were perfect all with beauty's charms ; 

Her step was light as falling mist 

That moves where e'er the sunbeams list, 

Light as the snow of fleecy flake 

Which falling none of sound doth maiie. 

Nor doth at all the silence break 

O'er the calm surface of a lake ; 

Her e3'es were as the ocean's blue. 

Or like the heavens' azure hue. 

But as two stars those eyes were bright, 



206 ARTELOTSE. 

The slieenest of a frosty night ; 
Her cheeks were rosy as the morn 
When sunlight in the east is born, 
When snowy white and crimson hues 
Their blending shades o'er skies infuse. 
A being more by beauty blessed 
Was never yet by man caressed. 
From the union of this noble pair 
The hero breathed man's vital air. 
His mother reared him from his birth 
To be a wonder of the earth ; 
Him to all toils of battle bred, 
His mind on themes of glory fed, 
Planted through all his soul the seeds 
That only grow to noble deeds. 
But ere he unto manhood grew 
Death the mother fi'om the child withdrew, 
Left him alone without a guide 
To wander o'er the nations wide. 
Yet still her wraith, the Fates decreed, 
Should guard her son in time of need, 
Should shield him from all hurt and harm 
And aid him every foe disarm, 
In strife all shock unscathed abide 
And from it aye triumphant ride. 
This was the tale that poets told 
About this hero strong and bold. 
Cormar by them this chief was named, 
And o'er the world for prowess famed, 
Where knighthood foremost honors claimed 
And glory heroes' souls inflamed. 



ARTELOISE. 207 



III. 



With soul all fill'd with scorn and pride, 
Where yet did pity ne'er abide, 
The coming strife Ursular eyed. 
But ere in fray the heroes met, 
While spears were for the conflict set, 
While yet three lances' lengths between 
The closing kings did intervene, 
Rigid as death each charger stood 
Like statues hewn from stone or wood, 
Nor for the goad of lance nor spur 
From out his place would either stir; 
The dead'ning power the heroes crost 
And straight the kings all motions lost. 

IV. 

Sudden as gleams the flash of light 
From clouds around the brow of night 
A sable storm of dust and sand 
Swell'd up and overwhelmed the land. 
Darker than night the gloom o'erspread 
The place around, while noises dread 
As of the crumbling of a world 
Were through the solid darkness hurl'd ; 
And came a voice, a voice sublime, 
To which the tempests of all time 
Together hoarded in one storm 
Would but a low, frail whisper form, 
Saying these words : " Thou soul of pride, 
Whose heart was ne'er to love allied. 
Whose soul no more of pity knows 
Than rock that sleeps 'neath Sevo's snows, 



208 ARTELOISE. 

V^ile, worthless thing of scorn and pride, 
For whom have countless heroes died 
On stormy flood and reeking field, 
This day thy doom, thy fate is sealed. 
Six hundred weary years and more 
Shalt thou be banished from this shore; 
The Polar fiends shall thee possess, 
Their icy arms shall thee caress. 
They shall round thee frantic orgies hold, 
And all their awful rites be told ; 
All fiends within those realms of ice 
To thee thy beauty shall entice ; 
They'll round thee meet and cast the die, 
And at its hazard all shall try ; 
As prize by one thou shalt be won, 
Whom thou for ages shall not shun; 
Thou shalt sleep upon his breast of snow, 
And thy sleep shall none of ending know 
Until a knight for deeds renown 'd, 
A hero of the Table Round, 
If this the favoring fates decree, 
Shall from thy slumbers set thee free 
And bring thee back across the sea, 
Where thou shalt yet a deed perform 
In spite of demon, flood or storm 
That shall for thee forgiveness Avin 
Of half thj' follies, pride and sin.' 
Thus spake the voice, and, dreader slill, 
All space did booming noises fill 
And deeper still the darkness grew, 
Seem'd through the air dread demons flew ; 
The flutter of huge wings v;as heard, 
Through all of space theij flappings stirr'd. 



ARTELOISE. 209 

A maiden's shriek rose on the air. 
'Twas agony or grim despair, 
But ne'er l)efore a shriek so drear 
Was ever knelled on human ear 
Since earth with pain and woe was curst. 
At this the solid gloom dispersed ; 
Some power the noises straight benumb, 
And every sound grows dead or dumb. 
The gloom departs and sunlight gleams 
Afresh o'er all the hills and streams; 
There on the tourney's ghastly field 
Is seen the cloven helm and shield, 
The earth with grisly corpses strown 
And all the wreck of battle shown. 
And there amidst the listed field 
Was either haughty king revealed, 
Silent as if all void of breath 
Or chained within the clasp of death. 
They still their mighty steeds bestride, 
And view the place both far and wide, 
But not a trace their eyes can find 
Of that fair form of womankind ; 
Like vision of a pleasing dream 
That fades from sight with dazzling gleam 
She'd sped, or like the rainbow's form 
That vanishes amidst the storm. 



And never from that fatal day 

The furies bore the maid away 

Were either of those mighty kings 

E'er seen in war or listed rings. 

Back to their native isles they drew, 
14 



210 ARTELOISE. 

And never more of battles knew. 

With peace and calm their realms they ruled ; 

In peaceful ways their subjects schooled ; 

Science and all the arts excelled 

Where e'er their sway those monarchs held ; 

The mighty energies of both 

Gave justice everlasting growth; 

Discord and sloth and every crime 

No foothold found in either clime ; 

Wisdom and justice held the sway, 

And fraud and wrong flew in dismay. 

Each monarch lived an ample life, 

Found fairer maid and fitter wife 

Than her they'd sought in mortal strife 

In listed field with carnage rife, 

Where men and steeds in gore lay drown'd ; 

But ever as the j^ears flew round 

Revolving brought that fatal day 

The furies tore the maid away 

To some lone cave would each repair, 

Wliere none their grief could see or hear, 

And past the dreary day in tears, 

In fasiing and in ceaseless prayers, 

And prayed for the immortal weal 

Of her who could no pity feel, 

Within whose soul did naught abide 

But cruel scorn and selfish pride. 

If e'er the fates and furies cast 

A pitying glance o'er all her past 

And doom'd her to a milder fate, 

Removed from her one-half their hate, 

'Twas done amidst the flight of years 

Through Trenmor's and through Cormar's pra3-ers 



ARTEIOISE. 211 



VI. 



And pity should the furies show 

And less of hate the fates bestow 

To one who from her early years 

Had never known a mother's cares, 

Who had been trained both soul and mind 

Unlike the rest of human kind, 

And scarcely ever from her birth 

Had mingled with the race of earth, 

But did alone with Merlin dwell, 

For bards of her this story tell, 

And bards are noted throuj^h all time 

For telling truth, whate'er their rhyme. 

They are of men the chosen few, 

The fates hid nothing from their view, 

The mists of all the ages past, 

Dense around the centuries-cast. 

They lift from off the distant years 

And lo, the Past all bright appears. 

Things buried deep in rayless night. 

Fettered in oblivion quite. 

From out the tomb they bring to light ; 

With life forgotten forms arise 

And move on before our eyes. 

Their mystic touch makes us behold 

The deeds of centuries of old ; 

Realms, nations, races, cities rise, 

All that in the Past deep buried lies. 

And this strange tale of Merlin's child, 

Wliom they'd by name Ursula styled. 

The bards have told : Cornar, a king 

Whose deeds of old the poets sing, 



212 . ARTELOISE. 

Who by the prowess of his sword 

In Wales won kingdom fair and broad, 

And spread his fame o'er ever}^ land 

Wide as the beams of morn expand 

As wisest monarch yet enthroned, 

A fair and lovely daughter own'd, 

As lovely and as pure a maid 

As ever nature yet surve^'ed. 

Pure health did her fair features show, 

And o'er them cast a ruddy glow, 

Like sunshine thrown on virgin snow. 

Mild in her manners and her mind, 

By nature generous and kind, 

She was the paragon of grace 

And virtues of the female race. 

Fiona, Cornar's lovely child, 

Was known wherever morning smiled. 

Where e'er the sun his lustre threw. 

Where waters flowed or breezes blew. 

Her with all blessings to assail 

In naught did sturdy Nature fail, 

With beauty's charms did she excell, 

High-born was she and nurtured well ; 

Her pure young heart all virtues grace, 

As Beauty's charms her form and face. 

Though many a knight and prince and king 

For [)rowess wide renown'd. 
Whose deeds of chivalry did nng 

The spacious world around, 
Unto the lovely maiden paid 

Their homage warm and true. 
But Merlin won the rosy maid, 

Left them her loss to rue. 



ARTELOISE. 213 



The wisdom of the subtle seer, 

His cunning and his art, 
Had won the fairest of the fair 

That lieaved a human heart, 
Tliat ever breathed of earthly air, 

Or yet to life did start, 
That ever press'd a mortal bier, 

Or did to death depart. 

vn. 

High on a ridge of woody hills 

That looked o'er ocean's foam, 
Adown whose slopes the crystal rills 

With gentle murmurs roam, 
And to the leafy summer trees 

Eternal music ring 
And send upon the gentle breeze 

The happy songs they sing 
And when, chained by freezing storms 

'Neath winter's hand of frost, 
Reveal a thousand fairy forms, 

In which their floods are tost, 
Dwelt Merlin and' his lovely bride, 

Fiona and her lord, 
"With every joy in nature wide 

That Fate can man afford. 
But ere two years had past away, 

Upon one summer morn. 
While flowers blossomed in fair array 

And leaves the trees adorn, 
With lips apart, with stirless heart 

And pulses void of sound, 



ABTELOISE. 

All void of breath and pale in death, 

Was fair Fiona found. 
And by her side an infant fair 

In slumber lay and smiled, 
Smiled on as if some angels there 

With happy dreams its sleep beguiled. 
As some lone wreath of spotless snow 

That lingers in the vale 
When springtide's gentle breezes blow 

Along the greening dale, 
And by the snow the violet grows 

And breathes upon the gale. 
So seemed that child that slept and smiled 

By her, so cold and pale, 
Who to her child had given birth, 

Then past to other spheres. 
And thus was found upon the earth 

She who in after years 
The bards Ursula styled by name 

And whose transcendent charms 
Sound ever on the roll of fame 

Amidst the clash of arms, 
Upon the fields of cloven shields, 

Of shivered spear and sword, 
O'er crimson flood of reeking blood 

And carnage deep and broad. 

VIII. 

Secluded from all human kind 
The crafty Merlin kept his child, 

Reared her in nature and in mind 
All haughty, scornful, reckless, wild ; 



ARTELOISE. 215 

Schooled her in all his craft and lore, 

In all his magic arts and spells, 
Till she could all the wiles explore 

That in the wizard's stronghold dwells. 
Whatever secrets knew the seer, 

Whatever charms o'er mortals threw 
With all their force to wake man's fear, 

As well as he the maiden knew. 
To make her fitter for the life 

A wizard maid should lead 
He filled her soul and nature rife 
With love of discord and of strife 

To never-ending greed ; 
Taught her to liate the love of man 

And all his friendship scorn, 
That 'twas to maids their surest ban 

Since first the race was born ; 
If e'er to lier a knight or king 

Should vows of love declare 
To bid him in the listed ring 

With either brand or spear 
Prove all the vows his tongue had spake 

And show his love was true, 
Perform all deeds for her own sake 

That mortal king could do ; 
And even then should they return, 

Not fall among the slain, 
Their proffered love to ever spurn 

And treat them with disdain. 
Though sweet her face as is the morn 
When all the charms its birth adorn. 
That 3^et in Beauty's realm were born. 

Or Beauty yet espied; 



216 ARTELOISE. 

He fill'd her soul with hate and scorn 

For all in nature wide. 
Her heart was ne'er by pity torn, 

No pity touched her pride, 
And man, her Mind and giddy fool, 

She ever led astraj^, 
Made him her victim and her tool, 

Her worshipper alway. 



IX. 



Such was the maid the knight had brought 

From out the realms of frost, 
For whom the Polar fiends had fought 

Till they their prize had lost. 
And shall o'er him her will prevail ? 

Shall he beneath her fall ? 
Say, shall her charms his soul assail 

And bind him with their thrall ? 
In vain on him her glance is cast ; 

Her charms are lost on him ; 
He heeds no smiles or lovely wiles 

Nor grace of form and limb. 
As sunbeam from the April skies 

Upon the billows cast 
That but a moment gleams, then dies 

Amidst the waters vast, 
So brief to him her charms arise, 

Across his soul are past, 
The pleasing vision from it flies 

As leaf before the blast. 



ARTELOISE. 217 



The sun was high and towards mid-day 
The creeping- shadows crawl 

Ere they had made their weary way 
Unto King Arthur's hall. 



X. 



The feast was spread and mirth and song 

Re-echoed wild through Arthur's halls, 
And ladies fair with heroes throng 

From every land within those walls, 
As there before both queen and king, 

With all her radiant charms aglow, 
The hoary guide and hero bring 

Ursula from the land of snoAV. 
Up springs each laiight and hero there. 

Bewildered with her witching charms ; 
Each swore to vvin the maiden fair 

Or meet for her his death in arms. 
They all arose within those walls, 

Each baron, hero, king and lord, 
Save he, the master of those halls, 

Who spread that day the festive board. 
He kept liis seat and o'er the throng 

A wily glance King Arthur threw, 
And thought: "To me shall she belong 

In spite of all that man can do, 
For such a maid in life or song 

Before did never mortal view." 
But while his thoughts the mighty king 

All secret in his bosom held, 
And round eternal praises ring 

Of her who all in charms excelled , 



2 1 8 ARTELOISE. 

And while from all the ladies there, 

From every maiden, princess, queen, 
At her the darting glances glare 

Of jealous envy, hatred, spleen, 
A slender maid, with feet .\s fleet 
As spirit of the mountain caves 
Or wraith the flying whirlwinds greet 

At midnight on the racing waves, 
Came in; to Arthur's side she drew. 
In centre of those spacious walls. 
A gory cross she lifts to view, 

Then on the floor it broken falls ; 
From place to place its breaking flew 

Like rolling thunders through those halls, 
Through all the place a darkness grew 

And wonder every soul enthralls ; 
Strange fear crept over every soul 

That feasted round that festive board, 
And while the deafening thunders loll 

Each hero sought his shield and sword. 
The thunders ceased and her frail form 

To its full height the spirit drew. 
Her tresses, dark as midnight storm. 

From her fair face and brow she threw. 
Straight with voice of clarion tone 

That did like strange, weird music roll, 
That rung through marrow, nerve and bone 

And all the precincts of the soul, 
She spake: "Ye potentates and kings, 

Ye knights and chiefs of deathless names. 

Whose praise across the wide earth rings 

Bright as yet flashed the northern flames, 



ARTELOJSE. 219 

The Fates that guard ^our destiny 

Have ordered me their herald here 
To warn you of your jeopardy 

That fast and dreadful gathers near. 
The ships speed o'er the ocean's foam, 

For miles they hide the flowing brine, 
Led by Terentius of Rome, 

The hoary Prophet of the Shrine ; 
Vast, dreadful are his gleaming spears 

And dreadful is his warlike host, 
And ere to-morrow's dawn appears 

They'll surely land on Britain's coast. 
So haste, ye kings and knights renown'd 

For prowess and for daring worth, 
Ye heroes of the Table Round, 

Whose fame o'erspreads the spacious earth. 
Back o'er the ocean's sounding wave 

Drive them with slaughter and alarm. 
Haste, knights of Christendom, and save 

The ci'oss from jeopardy and harm." 



XI. 



She ceased, and through the lofty halls 

A deeper, denser darkness grew. 
And every knight within those walls 

Could scarce his comrade's features view. 
As fast they searched for spear and brand. 

For clanging- armor, helm and shield, 
And seized the first that came to hand 

Where weapon sight or touch reveal'd, 
Sudden as winds of morning rise 

And drive the mists from off the hill, 



220 ARTELOISE. 

And all around in grandeur rise 

Its bristling rocks in ridges still, 
So swift the gloom from Arthur's halls 

Was by some unseen spirit fann'd, 
And all within, from walls to walls, 

In gleaming mail his heroes stand ; 
And with the gloom that left the place 

The mystic monitor had fled, 
But there still scattered o'er its space 

The fragments of the cross were spread ; 
From all its atoms flowed apace 

A reeking liquid gory red. 
And midst those halls no more were seen 

Two forms that late did there abide, 
Gone was Ursula's lovely mien, 

And gone the Jew, the hoary guide. 
A dreary silence filled the place, 

Not e'en was heard the clang of steel, 
Grimly each eyed his comrade's face. 

But not a word their thoughts reveal. 
Nor was the ghastlj^ silence broke 
Till, rising, thus King Arthur spoke : 
" Ye heroes of the Table Round, 
The bravest of all nations found, 
Who make such deeds your only choice 
In which heroic souls rejoice, 
Ye all have heard the solemn voice 
That spake but now, whose words still sound 
In deep, whispering echoes round, 
And fill this castle's spacious bound. 
Distinct that monitor I hear 
As when her voice rung on my ear ; 
The words she spake still onward roll 



ARTELOISE. 22 1 

Through all the regions of my soul, 
And though I can't foretell the doom 
Of coming war, I see its gloom, 
And with a faith deep-rooted, sui'e, 
That ever shall in God endure. 
That none of dangers, war or storm 
Shall ever in my soul deform, 
I shall all foes and dangers meet 
As them a Christian knight should greet, 
Nor ever fear nor know defeat 
While pulses in my body beat. 
Now straight let every warrior here 
Around this table take his chair," 
Swift at the word around the board 
Was seated every knight and lord. 
This done, again the king began : 
" Say, is there 'mongst ye all a man 
Who would the coming dangers shun. 
And tamely see the land o'errun 
By foreign foe? See rapine spread 
Around where e'er the foe shall tread, 
And he not lift his shield -and brand 
And give the realm a helping hand ? 
If such there be let him arise 
And go where never danger flies." 
He ceased, and long that monarch eyed 
His knights with silent throes of pride, 
For from his seat no warrior rose. 
Each sat in grim and fix'd repose ; 
In armor sheathed each kept his chair, 
Like rows of rocks seemed rooted there. 
Again the king the silence broke, 
Thus to his list'ning warriors spoke : 



222 ARTELOISE. 

" Are there two heroes here who'll ride 
With me and keep on either side, 
And aid me stem the shock and brunt 
And horrors of the battle's front ? " 
Scarce the sound of the last word slips 
From out the mighty monarch's lips, 
Than all around the spacious board 
Up leapt each hero, knight and lord. 
Like towers all of moving steel 
A glorious sight those chiefs reveal 
As, rising each from out his chair, 
He lifts aloft his sword in air. 
" I'll go 1 I'll go 1 " the loud words come, 
And 'mongst them all no voice is dumb. 

XII. 

What mortal bard shall sing the theme 
To limn the monarch's joy supreme 
When near him, faithful, firm and true 
In danger's hour, he comes to view 
His trusty heroes round him throng. 
Ready to die ere harm or wrong 
Shall unto him or his befall, 
Around him form a breakless wall ? 
Bright as the glowing beams of morn 
Sweet faith doth all his soul adorn, 
His faith in them is rooted fast. 
And when comes on the battle's blast 
Triumphant o'er his foes he rides 
Nor any foe his charge abides, 
For at his back or at his side 
His trusty warriors aye al)ide. 



ARTELOISE. 223 

Where e'er he goes they take their way 
Through all the wreck and shock of fray ; 
Their faith in him abideth pure, 
And they of victory are sure ; 
To ever}^ toil their souls inure, 
And for him every shock endure. 

XIII. 

Pride flashed from good King Arthur's eye 

And gladnc'^s swelled his feelings high 

As there he viewed of men a ring 

As brave as ever circled king, 

As bold of heart and strong of limb 

As ever faced a battle grim ! 

Those chiefs their hands together bring 

And swift around their gallant king 

United move, a solid ring, 

And as they move this song they sing : 

" Where is the maid in nature found 

Who never loved a knight renown 'd, 

Who never deemed his smile and kiss 

And warm caress her chiefest bliss. 

Would sooner lose her life, her all. 

Than not his soul with love enthrall ? 

Where is the knight that breathes this air 

Who loveth not a maiden fair, 

The face bedewed with morning's charms, 

The heaving breast and snowy arms, 

Whose sweetest fruits of bliss are found 

In her midst all the world around ? 

Where breathes the knight who would not wield 

For her the sword on listed field, 



224 ARTELOISE. 

To keep her from all harm and soil 

Not lose his life in battle toil ? 

Where breathes the knight on spacious earth 

Who loveth not his land of birth, 

Who would not for her lift the shield 

And ply his sword on battlefield 

Till he had every foe o'ercome 

Or he in death lay cold and dumb ? 

Who would not war and slaughter brave 

The altars of his land to save 

From hand of any mortal foe 

That semblance of a man could show? 

Who would not guard his father's grave 

From foe's despoiling hand ? Who'd wave 

No gleaming sword in freedom's cause 

And make through death grim tyrants pause? 

A band of brothers we, who brave 

For righteous deeds the gloomy grave. 

Where waters run or breezes blow 

For honor Ave will gladl^^ go. 

Where glows the sun in tropic clime 

And simooms roar witli strength sublime, 

Upheave their storms of burning sand 

Till thej^ through all of space expand 

And spread their wreck on every hand 

Till quakes around the groaning land ; 

Where mountains vast their summits show 

In panoply of endless snow, 

And over them the ceaseless storm 

Doth all in nature's real in deform ; 

Yes, thither we will gladly go. 

And die or vanquish ever}- foe. 

No realm so wild, no land so rude, 



ARTELOISE. • 225 

But there our feet will dare intrude ; 

No flood so wild, no sea so grim, 

But o'er them we shall sail or swim. 

No charm of seer nor wizard's spell 

But what King Arthur's knights can quell 

And send it back from earth to hell. 

We burst the necromancer's wall 

And beard him in his secret hall ; 

The dread magician's force we break, 

And make him swift the world forsake. 

For Arthur we to war will ride 

Wherever living foes abide ; 

For knightl}^ honor and for fame 

And prowess we the world shall shame, 

And through all coming ages we 

Shall the true knights' pride and glory be; 

From race to race our fame shall last 

Till hoary Time himself be past. 

King Arthur's deeds and manly worth 

Sliall ever charm the sons of earth. 

Speak but the word, oh, gallant king, 

And we who round you form this ring 

Would none of toil or peril shun 

Till we tlie best had tried and done ! " 

Thus sang the hardy warrior throng, 

With voices deep and loud and strong, 

Until the shades of coming night 

Were deepening o'er the mountain's height. 

Then spake the king : " The time has come ; 

None must be idle or be dumb. 

This night we all must spend in toil 

If we the enemy Avould foil. 

Haste, fire in the forges fling ; 
15 



226 ARTELOISE. 

To seething glow each furnace bring ; 
Let stalwart arms the sledges swing, 
And busy tongs and anvils ring ; 
New armor make, the old repair, 
And sharpen axe and sword and spear ; 
Let each one toil as best he may, 
And arm ye for the coming fray. 
Let fires on the hills be made, 
Their glow the gloom of night invade ; 
'Twill call my allies to my aid, 
For when on hills at night they glow 
The allies of King Arthur know 
They are the signals of distress, 
And hither here they'll shortly press." 

XIV. 

Then swift on every mountain's head 
There rose a glow of flaming red ; 
From hill to hill with ruddy light 
The beacons stream upon the night, 
And over land and flowing stream 
They glittered with redundant gleam, 
And over all the sky was spread 
A universal glow of red. 
O'er England's hills the lights were seen 
And over Scotland's mounts of green. 
And every rocky hill in Wales 
With glow the beacon's flame assails; 
Where e'er allies did Arthur own 
His signals of distress were shown, 
While far the signals of distress 
Did earth and sky in brightness dress, 



ARTELOISE. 227 

And over all a sheen was cast 
Like that from out volcano's blast; 
Around the blazing forges glowed, 
And busy, toiling heroes showed ; 
Some at the bellows work amain, 
While sweat and dust their features stain ; 
Some with tongs the metals turn 
Midst flames that unto whiteness burn ; 
Some on the spacious anvils hold 
The flaming metals, bright as gold. 
While some on these the sledges swing, 
Make metals and the anvil ring, 
Send sparks of flame in circles round 
That flash in air with glow profound, 
And all the air with sounds is rife, 
As if all noises and all life 
That yet the busy world has known 
Since first it into space was thrown 
Were hoarded there that place within 
And burst with all their life and din ! 
O'er hill and dell the sounds were flung 
That from those busy toilers rung, 
And all the air for miles around 
Re-echoed ^vilh the blows of sound. 
The helms they wrought and visors bright 
Tliat flashed around a gleaming light, 
And breast-plates with a polished glow 
Soon 'neath the busy toilers grow ; 
With blows of never-ending sound 
They build the bucklers broad and round, 
And all the plates of sounding steel 
That sheathes a knight from head to heel, 
All that a knight is wont to wear 



298 ARTELOISE. 

When he'd on fighting fields appear, 

And there some daring problems solve 

That victory or death involve. 

On wheels of stone, that swiftly turn 

As windmills which the tempests spurn. 

The ponderous axes, broad and sheen, 

Are ground to edges lightning keen ; 

The swords are whet and polished bright, 

Made ready for the coming fight, 

And every javelin and spear 

Is formed a piercing point to wear ; 

The bows they string with trust}^ thong, 

And form the arrows sharp and long, 

Feathered and tough and pointed strong ; 

The slings to hurl the weighty stone 

That breaks and crushes mail and bone 

And speed the hissing rock through air 

Complete they for the fray prepare. 

While armor new the toilers Avrought 

And it unto perfection brought, 

And from the old they burnt the rust 

Which time had formed in scaly crust 

While it had idle hung on wall 

For years neglected in the hall, 

And while with care they scan the mail, 

Drive firm a rivet or a nail 

Where such is need, and far around 

The place is rife with life and sound, 

Furnaces flame and forges glow 

And red-hot bars of metal show, 

And busj^ men around them toil, 

Whose strong limbs sweat and dust besoil, 

And far away the beacons glow. 



ARTELOISE. 229 

On every hill their fires show, 
And over earth and heaven spread 
A waving gleam of crimson red, 
Bidding each baron, king and lord 
That dwelt throughout those regions broad 
Round Arthur's halls in haste to press 
And aid him in his sore distress — 
While this was passing, sheathed complete 
In gleaming steel from head to feet, 
And armed with buckler, spear and sword. 
Alone through night rode Britain's lord ; 
Past to a deep and woody vale, 
Where rocks all sides the eye assail, 
Soon gain'd a narrow, winding road 
That horse-tracks up a mountain showed; 
On this the king" his charger rein'd 
And soon the mountain's summit gain'd 
Far up as safe on steed to ride, 
Then to a tree his steed he tied ; 
High up a peak on foot he drew. 
Where he could all the country view — 
Its vales and hills, and far below 
Could see where floods their ocean show. 
And they were tinged with rudd}' glow 
By lights o'er them the beacons throw. 
Well o'er the realm of flood and foam 
The king could see the ships of Home ; 
Their stately masts and outstretched sails 
Where e'er he looks his vision hails ; 
He sees them reach his rocky coast 
And from them pour their mighty host. 
In arms they stalked along the beach 
Far as the human eye could reach, 



230 ARTELOISE. 

And well their shouts could Arthur's ear 

Across the lonely distance hear ; 

The murmur of the songs they sung, 

Sounds that from the clarions rung, 

The din of gongs and bray of fife, 

All blended, make a tumult rife, 

Like that which comes on evening's breeze 

When winds stir from their sleep the seas 

And through a waste of waving trees 

The all discordant music comes 

And through the air eternal hums. 

Around the monarch cast his view 

Where on the hills the fires grew, 

And well his piercing eye could see 

Arising on the hilltops free 

Each bright answering signal flame 

That from his host of allies came ; 

J]ach, as in air its light was thrown, 

He knew was answer to his own. 

From hill to hill the answers rolled, 

In every place his allies told 

With tongues of fire, voice of flame, 

They from their lofty strongholds came, 

And soon with buckler, sword and spear, 

His aids, would at his side appear. 

And well he knew that when the^^ came 

Their ardor only death could tame, 

And not a breathing Roman foe 

The nation three days hence would show ; 

Unless the righteous God of all 

Had different will'd, the foe should fall. 

To heaven his face the king upturn 'd, 

With eyes that bright as starbeams burn'd 



AKTELOTSE. 231 

And soul that for the nation's weal 
Yearn 'd all as fervent and as leal 
As e'er a soul in mortal man 
Has yearn 'd since humankind began. 
And while he stood with face upraised 
To Him who all his life he'd praised, 
Had worshipped, honored and adored, 
He thus began : " O Holy Lord, 
Eternal God, incline Thine ear, 
Thy humble servant's troubles hear; 
With pity look on all my woes, 
And make me victor o'er my foes ; 
Let me drive them from m^^ native shore, 
And crown with peace the realm once more ; 
Let not their rude, insulting hand 
Destroy my rule within this land. 
I ask Thee not those foes to tame 
With Thy own thunder and Thy flame. 
To hurl on them a storm of death, 
With pestilence to stop tlieir breath, 
No roaring tempests from on high. 
With hurtling rocks to make them die, 
Wliile I stand idly by and see 
The whole dread deed performed by Thee. 
Of such of Thee no aid I ask ; 
Let me alone perform the task. 
Aided by those who this night bring 
Their heroes to support their king. 
Let us, Lord, the deed perform 
And be to them destroying storm ; 
Keep good our courage, strength and breath 
While we the foes shall smite with death. 
For it has stood a truth sublime 



232 ARTELOISE. 

Since Thou created man and time 

That those Thy hand shall always aid 

Who efforts first themselves have made 

To help and succor their own cause, 

Not pining, fretting, idly pause 

Till Thou shall all their foes o'erthrow, 

While they themselves no aid bestow. 

No, no, O Lord, Thy will be done 

Now as when first that will begun, 

And ever still beyond all time 

Thy will shall govern ever}- clime ; 

All souls and all the starry spheres. 

Whose end nowhere in si:)ace appears. 

Thy arm to do no deed I'd ask 

Were I not partner in the task. 

This is all I crave of Thee, Lord : 

Keep good my breath, my strength and 'sword 

And let me fight as I shall will 

Till foes shall fly or slumber still. 

Do this, O Lord, and men shall see 

How dread in war this arm can be ; 

For strength in war the cliff of Fame 

Will never show a brigliter name ; 

For daring ne'er before espied 

On me the sun shall smile with pride. 

Do this for me, thou Lord of all, 

Nor let me and my kingdom fall ! 

Guard well my breath, my strength and brain 

Nor let me call on Thee profane 

When we shall joyous joeace regain 

And foes are beaten, fled or slain. 

But when by me they are o'erthrown 



ARTELOISE. 233 

Ko hatred shall by me be shown; 
I'll unto them such mercy show 
I'd have them unto me bestow." 

XV. 

So pray'd the king, and from the place 

He downward trod with hast}' pace 

To where a stately Kock beside 

Two moving figures he espied ; 

One was a young and lovely maid 

In flowing robes of wliite array 'd, 

One was a man well bent with years, 

With feeble form and hoary hairs. 

Right well the twain the monarch knew, 

And unto them he swiftly- drew, 

And spake the king as he came near : 

" What does so strange a couple here ? 

Ursula, for what hast thou to-night 

From out my castle ta'en thy flight 

To wander in so drear a place 

With cheeks of beaut}', form of grace? 

And Simon, this place is damp for thee ; 

Thou shouldst in my castle be. 

Telling thy tales of travel strange, 

For thou hast roam'd the world's broad range." 

" Well hast thou spake," the JeAV replied ; 

•' Here a strange couple doth abide 

As e'er together man espied, 

But, noble king, we came not here 

Through thoughts of pleasure or of fear, 

Nor any passion styled as love ; 

These our thoughts are far above, 



234 ARTELOISE. 

Nor is such thing within onr creed. 

We came here to arrange a deed 

That we to-morrow must perform 

If space is free of clouds and storm; 

If the sun dotli radiant glow 

Naught shall these schemes and plans overthrow ; 

We, we the Roman fleet shall burn, 

Its stateliness to ashes turn. 

Laugh not in scorn, O noble king, 

Nor think we cannot do such thing. 

It will be done to-morrow sure 

If no clouds from us the sun obscure 

And he beams on us bright and pure. 

Long time to me such deed was taught, 

And I before such acts haA-e wrought ; 

Archimedes this science knew, 

And he a Roman fleet o'erthrew ; 

Through mirrors it to ruin gave, 

And sank it 'neath the ocean's wave, 

Where floods shores of Ortygia lave. 

His fleet consumed like flaming fuse 

Marcellus viewed at Syracuse. 

Yon Roman fleet aflame shall be 

Ere we to-morrow's noon shall see. 

Behold, good king, these mirrors here. 

Look o'er their bright and glossj- sphere; 

With these I could to flame awake 

The waters of a frozen lake." 

As thus he spoke he ranged arow 

Nine mirrors, all of glossy glow. 

With surfaces all clear and bright 

That flash redundant, blinding light, 

And o'er the hills strange shadows threw 



AETELUISE. 235 

That into dazzling brightness giCTv. 

When this he did the lioary man 

Unto the king again began : 

" I was olJ in years when rose the morn 

That Christ upon the earth was born ; 

My head with all its waving hairs 

Was whitened with the rime of years. 

Yet I am living, breathing now, 

Loolc just the same in face and brow, 

In form and every outward show > 

As in those centuries ago. 

In ma tliere is at all no change, 

No matter where o'er earth I range ; 

No matter where I move or go 

In me no changes ever show. 

It seems that I am curst with life 

That shall no ending know, no strife 

Cut ever short, till Christ again 

Shall tread this woild of woe and pain 

And unto me an ending give. 

It is an awful thing to live 

Such weary centuries of time. 

An outcast tost from clime to clime, 

A curse upon the earth's broad face, 

Estranged from all the human race, 

To roam like air from land to land. 

From sea to sea, from strand to strand. 

And never aught but travel know. 

On earth my limbs no shadows throw, 

And when I list no mortal man 

My presence at his side can scan. 

See here, this cloak I'll cast aside 

That seems a mortal form to hide, 



236 ARTELOISE. 

But when from me the cloak I cast 
We both from mortal sight have past ; 
'Tis only when this cloak I wear 
Tliat I to mortal sight appear ; 
The instant that it leaves my form 
Swift as the lightning of the storm 
We both invisible become, 
And every gazer's voice is dumb 
If asked where we so sudden flew." 
As this he said his cloak he drew 
Aside, and straight was lost to view. 
The cloak and man were lost to sight, 
Seem'd melted into air outright ; 
No slightest trace was left behind 
To either man or garment find. 

XVI. 

A moment past, and lo, the Jew 
Grew in the air distinct to view ; 
Sudden as he had ta en his flight 
Again he stood before their sight, 
The same old, bent and hoary man. 
And thus again his voice began. 
" You see how swift from mortal gaze 
I start and back to it can raise, 
Am lost to sight or stand in view. 
This I've had the power to do 
Ever since thiit sad, fatal day 
When, midst uproar and grim dismay, 
For sin of man the Saviour died, 
Upon the cross Avas crucified. 
I stood amidst the crowd that day. 



ARTELOISE. 237 

And as by me Christ took His way, 
Bearing His lieavy cross along, 
Bleeding from blows of lash and thong 
From head and form and eVer^- limb 
Witli which the rabble smote on Him. 
And while His bare feet, bruised and torn 
On path of cutting stone and thorn. 
Were oozing crimson forth amain, 
Marking His path Avith gory stain. 
Right close by me the Saviour past ; 
As this He did my gaze I cast 
Full in His e_yes and then apace 
Three times I smote Him on His face, 
Saying to Him as this I did 
' Why tarry here? Haste Thee and rid 
Thee of Thy pains and mortal breath ; 
Or dost Tliou fear to meet Thy death ? ' 
As Him thus with voice and hand I spurned 
On me His gaze the Saviour turned 
And calmly said: * Simon, here remain 
Till I to earth shall come again.' 
And here on earth I have remained. 
By Time and even Deatli disdained. 
Time makes in me no slightest change 
As o'er their path the centuries range 
And make all else on cartli grow strange ; 
The same frail form and wrinkled brow 
I had that day I still have now. 
Like lonely waif on restless seas, 
The prey of waves and storm and breeze, 
1 roam alone from place to place 
And mix with every creed and race, 
For every tongue of every land, 



238 ARTELOISE. 

And speech, I speak and understand. 
Yet all the dreary time my soul 
So lonely is, so thralled with dole 
And wretchedness, it seems to me 
That God doth never with us be. 
But wjiat to me doth strangest seem 
Of all, and haunt me like a dream, 
Is this : The day I smote the Lord 
A pain as from a thrust of sword 
That instant shot through all my hand 
And withered it ; as here I stand 
That thrill of pain unceasing goes, 
And never any respite knows ; 
Since that fatal day this hand received 
The shock it's never been relieved ; 
Eternal as my years remain, 
So lasting seems this throe of pain ; 
To ease it this world's balms are vain 
Till Christ shall walk on earth again, 
And then perhaps I shall fulfill 
My destiny of pain and ill. 
No longer o'er the earth repair 
From clime to clime, like moving air. 
But in the grave that rest obtain 
That nature gives to mortal pain, 
Lie down with Death in calm repose, 
.Oblivious to human woes. 
In peaceful company with those 
I loved and lost in early years 
And wept for Avith my mortal tears, 
Who did for me all friendship show 
That in the hearts of mortals glow, 
Whose souls were true in weal or woe, 



ARTELOISE. 239 

Who died long centuries ago. 

Oh, shortly may the day arrive 

That I shall be no more alive. 

That Christ shall walk the earth once more, 

But not be treated as of yore. 

Now, hero, king, my tale is told ; 

In me the Wandering Jew behold, 

And when to God 3'our prayers you make 

Ask Him to pity, mercy take 

On this old man, for mercy's sake ; 

Though he is curst, not make that curse 

Eternal as the universe, 

Nor let His anger for my crime 

Last through all centuries of lime, 

But let it please His will benign 

To me a different fate assign, 

Give to me a happier state, 

For my repentance has been great. 

Do this for me, gallant king, 

Aid me my woes to ending bring, 

For prayer when by the rightequs made 

Will sure the ear of God invade ; 

With God men's prayers avail far more 

Than dream'd of on this mortal shore. 

And I for you a deed shall do 

Ere we to-morrow's noon shall view 

That shall o'erwhelm the Roman fleet 

With grim disaster all complete. 

But to your halls I now must go. 

What's passing there I fain would know ; 

There I must seek for Beau De Main 

And others of your knightly strain, 

Array them for the coming fraj', 



240 ARTELOISE. 

To which I mean to lead the way. 
To-moirow will be battle day 
Grim as did e'er the sun survey I " 
As this he said the hoary Jew 
Was instant lost to Arthur's view ; 
Around he gazed, but sight or sound 
Of that strange man he nowhere found. 

XVII. 

To catch the cooling breeze of night 

His gleaming helm and visor bright 

The hero drew from off their place 

And bared his cornel}' head and face. 

His ruddy cheeks the hues of morn 

With all their healthy tints adorn ; 

Clean rows of white and pearl}' teeth 

His hairy lips display beneath ; 

And from beneath as manly brow 

As nature ever made till now 

Shone his clear eyes, and of that hue 

Seen in the skies, a living blue, 

Which showed a spirit brave and true, 

Whom friends could trust and foemen rue ; 

And o'er his head his yellow hair 

Grew luxuriant on its lair. 

And ne'er before through all her past 

Ursula e'er her gaze had cast 

Upon as comely, noble face, 

Such manly harmony and grace 

And if tiiat maiden never knew 

For man that came witliin her view 

One ray of love, she must have felt 



ARTELOISE. 241 

It then, her icy spirit melt, 
For to the king she swiftly drew, 
On him cast a lingering view, 
While blushes all her face o'erspread 
More sweet than ever morning shed ; 
Her arms around his neck she threw 
And to his lips with kisses grew, 
Pressed warm on his her ruby mouth, 
Like rosebud of the Sunny South, 
The fairest yet that ever grew 
On green or felt the morning dew, 
And said: " Six hundred years have past 
Since I on Trenmor looked m}' last. 
And knew I not right well that he 
No more on earth doth living be, 
I'd claim thee as that hero now, 
Thine is his face and manlj^ brow." 
Then to the king the maiden told 
About the tourneys waged of old, 
How mighty hero, prince and king 
Did unto her their homage bring, 
And how, to win earth's fairest prize, 
Kings fought and died before her eyes I 
To which King Arthur swift replied : 
" Had I been there I too had tried 
To fiivor find within thine e^es 
And with my lance have won the prize, 
For fairer maid was never seen 
And never trod on nature's green. 
In thee are all the graces rife 
That ever Beauty woke to life, 
And through all ages shall thy name 
Blaze brightest on the cliffs of fame 
16 



242 ARTELOISE. 

As earth's fairest, loveliest maid 

For whom e'er hero drew his blade, 

Or king or knight or prince or peer 

Has e'er in battle couched a spear." 

The monarch ceased^ and blushes red 

The lovely maiden's face o'erspread ; 

Within his arms she dropped her head, 

While he her lips with kisses fed 

Oh, blame him not, ye righteous souls 

Who dwell within earth's spacious polos, 

Whose self-deem'd virtue knows no sin, 

Though all's uncleanliness within, 

If he while she lay in his arms 

Forgot Guinever's lovely charms. 

And he his vows of wedlock broke 

Ere on the hills the morning woke ; 

Condemn him not, ye righteous old, 

Whose natures have through j-ears grown cold 

Who through the feebleness of age 

No more in lusts of flesh engage, 

Who frown austere and madly scold 

At things they did ere grown too old ; 

The hoary and the toothless crone, 

Who's little more than skin and bone ; 

The preacher with the frosted head, 

With all his youthful fires dead ; 

The maid who never did a sin. 

Whose soul for lust no force shall win. 

But harbors much strange thought within. 

Are all too prone to evil think 

Of those who seem upon the brink 

Of doing mortal sin ; 'twere well 

If nobler thoughts would in them dwell. 



ARTELOrSE. 243 

And think less of their neighbors' deeds. 
Though noxious all as poisoned weeds. 
Or yet the youthful preachers whom 
Fate to no sin shall ever doom, 
At least they broadly tell us so, 
And none like them with virtues glow, 
But when they think the^^ are unseen 
Of those who view their actions keen 
We much in them will find unclean. 
Their velvet words and silken speech 
Oft more of crimes than virtues teach, 
'Cause they don't practice what they preach. 
They wall their many virtues round 
As chestnuts in their hulls are bound, 
A thousand thorns as sharp as spurs 
Keep them secure within their burs ; 
But oft the burs that seem the best, 
To largest, soundest nuts invest, 
When o.pened all* the fruit is found 
Worm-eaten, worthless and unsound. 
How fared till morn the maid and king 
It is not for this bard to sing ; 
Mine is a tale of Arthur's time. 
No history of love or crime. 
But let no mortal of this earth, 
Whate'er his station, rank or birth. 
E'er cast the slightest taint of shame. 
Dishonor on a maiden's fame. 
It's like the delicate dust that clings 
Unto the butterfly's bright wings. 
The slightest touch will break away 
The source that gave it glory's ray, 
The bruised and wounded wing, no more 



244 ARTELOISE . 

Shall fly with beauty as before ; 
On earth the insect falls and lies 
Till it from pain and anguish dies. 
Before I'm done this much I'll say: 
The maid was fair, the king was gay ; 
Each for the other breathed with charms, 
And these are Love's and Cupid's arms, 
The strong morion, spear and shield 
With which Love ever wins the field, 
And never knight or maiden met 
Whose beauty either soul beset 
But what an easy fray was fought 
And sweetly to an ending brought. 
When once a maiden gives her ear 
The wooing of a knight to hear. 
If he, indeed, a true knight be. 
Then soon victorious is he ; 
It's as Nature from the first decreed, 
And is in every race and breed. 
And when the maiden's love is won 
Then glitter's Joy's ascending sun ; 
No clouds the glowing beams obscure. 
All while the loves of both endure. 
AVe may bright virtue's throne o'erthrow, 
But what trophies can the concjnest show 
To recompense the pain and woe 
That victor and vanquished know, 
When, with meditative soul and thought, 
They contemplate the ruin wrought. 
And know they can rebuild no more 
The structure with its grace of yore ? 
A moment's folly may deface 
A life that erst was perfect grace, 



ARTELOISE. 245 



And leave behind a tarnish there 
Shall never wholly disappear; 
No matter what the arts devised 
To keep those blemishes disguised, 
All follies and all sins that we 
Commit while in this life we be 
Glow like the flames on mountains high, 
That blaze to every mortal eye. 
None fail to see the glowing light, 
How fair tlje day or dark the night ; 
While all our virtues, pure and sheen, 
By mortal eyes are never seen, 
Though they be bright as is the sun 
When o'er his disk no clouds are run, 
Or like electric beacons glow 
On mountain tops, that dazzling throw 
Their fadeless lustre far and wide, 
Which can no night or darkness hide. 
They're seen by mortal eyes no more 
Than pearls on ocean's deepest floor. 
And if the bright Ursula's ear 
Did wooing of King Arthur hear. 
And learned to love him more and more, 
It past as wooings have before. 
The bravest knight in listed field, 
That ever lifted brand or shield, 
Will, vanquished, unto beauty yield, 
Become her willing serf and slave, 
Her football, if the beauty crave. 
The braver is the knight in arms, 
And midst all dangers and alarms, 
Easier the prey to beauty's charms. 



24G ARTELOISE. 



PART VII. 



i\ midst the East the coming day 

Has sprinkled all the sky with gray ; 

The lark from his high treetop springs, 

And flaps in air his dewy wings, 

Hails with his small throat the coming beam 

And sips with joy the mountain stream ; 

The roe leaps from his lonely lair, 

And, bounding, snuffs the morning air ; 

Aloud in space the small birds sing, 

And make the woods with music ring. 

Afar o'er wold and field and hill 

Tlie haughty steed neighs, loud and shrill, 

Paws fast the earth and pricks his ears 

To all he sees, to all he hears, 

Hails with delight the rising day. 

And snuffs afar the coming fray ; 

Where e'er he looks around appear 

A forest bright of moving spears ; 

The gleam of arms and bossy shields 

He sees afar o'er hills and fields, 

Sees how Arthur's knights to battle file 

When danger threatens Britain's isle. 

With steady footsteps, swift and strong, 

In silence speed the hosts along ; 

No fife nor trumpet breathed a sound, 

Nor clarion break the stillness round ; 

Save heavy tread and clash of steel 

The hosts no other sounds reveal, 



ARTELOISE. 247 

And those the neighing chargers gave , 
And scarce the winds their banners wave : 
Each drooping from its staff appears 
O'er gleaming steel and bristling spears. 
And far to left and far to right, 
Wherever roams the searching sight, 
The liills and glens and fields reveal 
The moving ranks of British steel, 
Or those the trusty allies bring 
To aid the cause of Britain's king. 



II. 



Sheen as the flame the furnace shows 
When 'neath the bellows' blast it glows, 
And far its blinding lustre throws, 
From out the East the sun uprose ; 
Above the hills his beam uprears, 
And 'neath his light the world appears. 
Then all that host of bristling spears 
A gleaming, blinding splendor wears ; 
Far to left and far to right. 
In moving rows of burnished light, 
And ridges deep, the marshalled lines 
The splendor of the sun outshines. 
And there amidst those ranks appear 
The boldest that the earth could rear. 
Each haughty baron, knight and lord 
That dwelt throughout the nation broad, 
And every knight and king renowned 
Belonged unto the Table Round. 
All those who dwelt amidst the isles, 
Where foam roars round for many miles, 



248 ARTELOISE. 

And aye through mist the morning smiles, 
Were seen amidst those gleaming files : 
There were the heroes Bors and Ban, 
Sir Launcelot and Dinadan ; 
Sir Tristram there, and Pellinore, 
Balin and haughty Lanceor, 
Balan and death-defying Tor. 
Why should I name the heroes o'er? 
There all the knights and chiefs were found 
That knew and prized the Table Round ; 
And those who more of them would know 
Their lives will Arthur's annals show : 
Go read the tales b}' night or day, 
They'll well the time and toil repay. 
Yes, ever3' knight and chief was there 
Who that day breathed the vital air, 
Who were not weak with hoarj^ age. 
And could in battle toils engage. 
Whei-e to and fro the standards reel 
Above a sea of moving steel, 
Where forests gleam of bristling spears, 
A giant form in mail appears. 
Like shining column, broad and tall, 
lie stood, the tallest of them all ; 
And, like the sun, his beaming shield 
Shot splendor over hill and field ; 
Lustre from his morion came 
As from some peak of waving flame. 
So looked amidst the martial strain 
The daring hero, Bean de Main, 
Sheathed in the mail that Vulcan wrought, 
Its shine all eyes of heroes caught ; 
With wonder all tiie hosts behold 



ARTELOISE. 249 

Its gleaming plates of steel and gold. 
But foremost of that vast arra}', 
Wliere sunbeams over armor play, 
And shoots around a sea of light 
Too blinding for the human sight, 
Leading to war his own bright wing, 
Rode daring Arthur, Britain's king. 

III. 

Meanwhile in arms the Roman host 
Were marshalled grim along the coast, 
Bright as a sea of rolling flame 
Along the land they marching came ; 
Their casques a burnished lustre threw 
'Neath waving plumes of every hue. 
There shone the axe and lance and shield, 
All weapons used on battle-field, 
And some unknown to Britain's king 
From Rome these fierce invaders bring. 
High on a charger black as night. 
All sheathed in armor ruddy bright, 
Which over all its form was spread 
And clothed the steed from tail to head, 
Leading his foremost battle-line, 
Rode on the Prophet of the Shrine, 
No mail the hoary hero wore, 
A shield and sword were all he bore, 
And v/ith voice like clarion strong- 
He led his shouting hosts along 
Where to and fro the banners reel 
Above a moving sea of steel. 
Where sounds the maddening war-horn's peal 



250 ARTELOISE. 

And fife and gong their sounds reveal, 
Wliere lieavy tread and armor's clang 
Upon the air terrific rang 
And fiU'd all air with tumult rife, 
Such as is known to coming strife. 

IV. 

The hosts have met in battle shock, 
And to and fro they reel and rock, 
Like billows of a raging main 

When by contending tempests stirr'd, 
Tiiat rise and fall and rise again, 
And clash and roar and tug and strain 

And all the rocks with foam-wreaths gird, 
Wliilk. all the wraiths of ocean howl 
Amidst the tempest's deep'ning scowl. 
A thousand swords have left their sheaths, 

A thousand blades are bare, 
A tliousand swords are flashing bright 
In hands of hero, king and knight 

Who well can dangers dare, 
And in and out the}^ ride about 

The Roman cohorts there. 
With death or rout the^^ quell the shout 

Of Roman knight and peer. 
As the loud din the forge within 

When anvils rock and ring. 
When fusing steel tlie sledges feel 

That stalwart toilers swing, 
Such is the noise that there destroys 

The peace of morning air, 
And all around is heard the sound 

Of breaking sword and spear, 



ARTELOISE. 251 



The clash of arms and dread alarms 

That from that battle rise, 
The shriek and groan to conflict known 

When hero falls and dies, 
Or falls in dust from blow or thrust 

And 'neath the charger lies. 



V. 



The clouds of dust rise up amain 
And roll athwart the battle-plain, 
And swarth in clouds of rolling gloom 
The armies, banner, spear and plume. 
But while amidst the dust they reel 
Unceasing roars the clash of steel, 
On casques the sounding axes ring 
And echoes far and wide they fling, 
And clanging blows on sounding shields 
Roar over all the battle-fields, 
Dread noises from the roaring strife 
Pill all the air with tumult rife. 
The rising winds of morning blow, 
Aside the shrouds of battle throw ; 
And far to right and far to left, 
Where winds the folds of gloom have cleft, 
Are seen the lines of broadswords bright 
That rise and fall amidst the fight. 
The axes with their edges keen 
That fast descend like lightning's sheen, 
While over all the scene appears 
The flying shafts and hissing spears, 
The stones that from the slings repair 



252 ARTELOISE. 

And hissing fill at times the air 
And deal destruction o'er the fields 
And break at times the serried shields ; 
Long arrays of morions bright 
Tiiat beam amidst tlie battle's night 
Like ridges seem of waving fiame, 
And could light of meteors shame. 
Such sights the rolling battle shows 
Whene'er the breeze of morning blows, 
Aside the gloom of battle throws 
That from the earth eternal grows, 
As to and fro in battle shock 
The struggling armies reel and rock 
With all their will and strength and breath. 
Increase the ghastly work of death. 

VI. 

'Tis now well nigh the noon of day, 

Yet still unceasing roars the fray ; 
In vain King Arthur's heroes toil, 
With foeman's blood bedew the soil ; 
Still, still the Romans crowd around. 
Fresh columns throng the gory ground ; 
At every turn and sight and sound 
Fresh swarms of Roman knights are found. 
Side by side, small space between, 
Arthur and Beau de Main are seen. 
On foot the might}^ heroes toil, 
And with grim carnage dye the soil ; 
With serried shields they bide the brunt 
And shock of half that battle's front ; 
With their good swords their path they hew 



ARTELOISE. 253 

Where e'er the Romans rise to view, 

Through helms and heads their swords descend, 

And thus the lives of hundreds end ; 

Where e'er the battle dreadest grows, 

Where thickest swarm the hosts of foes 

Their flaming swords the heroes wield 

And hurl to earth both man and shield. 

In vain 'gainst them the Romans sweep 

With serried shields in columns deep ; 

In vain they rush in swift career 

And hurl at them the gleaming spear; 

In vain they hurl the weighty stone 

That crushes other mail and bone; 

All weapons that they own are vain 

To hurt or harm that mighty twain. 

Whose swords descending sweep their ranks 

And make in them wide, ghastly blanks. 

Who clothe the earth with Roman blood 

And crimson it with reeking flood, 

Who mark their tracks where e'er they go 

With gliastly lines of slaughtered foe, 

Morion cleft and broken shield, 

And all the arms that heroes wield 

When striving on the battle-field ; 

Yet still the foemen do not yield. 

But onward, onward, crowd amain 

And battle wage against the twain, 

Those chiefs for prowess wide renown'd, 

Those heroes 'of the Table Round. 



254 ARTELOISE. 



VII. 



What lights are those that flash on hio-h 

And shoot their glow across the sky ? 

Whose sheen e'en makes the noonday's sun 

Barn with a brigiitness dim and dun? 

What lights are they ? On yonder hill 

They rise and half of space they fill; 

Across that wide expanse of land 

Between that hill and ocean's strand 

Tliose steady shafts of light descend 

As towards the sea those streamers wend ; 

They fast together nearer tend, 

And all in one sheen point they end; 

And full upon the Roman fleet 

It fast descends with glowing heat. 

A moment past, no more, and flame 

O'er all that fleet fast rushing came; 

The fanning winds that moment rise, 

From ship to ship the fire flies 

In one vast column, hroad and red, 

O'er all the fleet the flames outspread ; 

O'er sails, and spars, and stately masts 

Terrific sweep the flaming blasts. 

From ship to ship the whirling flame 

With horrid sounds and colors came; 

Each deck and hull the flame receives, 

And each burns on like withered leaves, 

Or like dry grass the flame consumes 

When wild o'er it the tempest fumes. 

Down, down unto their water line, 

To where they touched the azure brine, 

Those stately ships the flames consume. 



ARTELOISE. 255 

And them to utter ruin doom. 
Such was the end that fate decreed 
That fleet, and those who did the deed 
Shall live in story and in tale 
Till hoary Time himself shall fail. 
Ursula and the deathless Jew 
Shall live in stor}- old and new; 
Sire to son the tale shall go, 
And races ^et unborn shall know 
How they their sul)tle skill employed, 
And they the Roman fleet destroyed. 

VIII. 

With terror wild the Romans view 

Their fleet that swift to ruin drew; 

To save that fleet in vain they fl}^, 

To quench those flames in vain the}^ try, 

In vain they cast huge streams of brine. 

The flames still broader, brighter shine ; 

A hoarse and sturd}^ Western breeze 

To tossing foam had chaffed the seas. 

And this stirr'd up the eager flame 

Till all a roaring blaze became ; 

And, in spite of all that man could do, 

The circling flames their way pursue. 

Wrapt hulls and masts, and shrouds and sails, 

Till everywhere the flame prevails. 

Till universal ruin spread 

In smoke and conflagration dread 

er all that fleet, in embers red 

And ashes sank to ocean's bed, 

And ocean's azure curtains close 



256 ARTELOISE. 

Above its lasting, deep repose, 
Left not a trace along that shore 
To tell where it had been of yore. 



IX. 



Along the hills the da}- declines, 
O'er them the slanting snnbeam shines, 
And far away their summits tall 
O'er earth in lengthening shadows crawl. 
On, onward, wider, longer still 
Creeps forth the shadow of each hill; 
The trees increasing dimness wear. 
Till all Avith somber shades appear. 
And gloom of night comes falling fast, 
O'er all her misty mantles cast. 
Yet still the battle roars amain 
And heroes die to glory gain. 
From right to left, from left to right, 
Terrific rolls the waves of fight ; 
Now Arthur's knights advantage gain, 
On all sides rout the foe amain. 
Pursue o'er fields the Roman hordes 
With gory spears and dripping swords; 
When sudden, swift as waves turn back 
When met upon the tempest's track. 
Returning come in grim array 
And fill the air with blinding spray, 
So sudden and so swift their ranks 
The Romans turn, their broken flanks 
Repair apace, and form their van 
With serried shields and man to man, 
Wliib to and fro their standards reel 



ARTELOISE, 257 

And round their maddening war-horns peal, 

On comes their hurricane of steel 

To death and grisly ruin deal. 

So fought the hosts upon that field, 

Nor one could make the other yield ; 

Where one advantage lost they fought 

Till it Avith blood thej- back had bought, 

Nor heeded they the loss of life, 

So the}^ were victors in the strife ; 

On fought they till their latest breath, 

And piled a grisl}^ mound of death. 

Though dread his sword King Arthur plied, 

And he who battled at his side, 

And 'neath them dread the carnage grew 

As ever field of battle knew, 

Yet still the waste of life seem'd vain, 

Still round the foemen closed amain, 

And hard and swift their blows they rain 

Upon the grim, destroying twain. 

In vain the Prophet of the Shrine 

Urges to strife each serried line. 

In vain he forms his mighty horde 

In ridgy columns deep and broad, 

In vain he forms in hollow squares, 

They're broken by the British spears ; 

III vain they into phalanx move. 

Its; strength the Saxons swiftly prove, 

O'er it the knights terrific ride 

In dust and gore ti'amp down its pride; 

In vain he every tactic proves 

That in the sphere of battle moves ; 

Ilis knowledge and his tactics fail 

To make the Britons fl}^ or quaii. 
17 



268 ARTELOl&E. 



A sable night had gathered in, 
Yet still was heard the battle's din; 
O'er hill and glen and lonely wold 
The distant sounds of conflict rolled, 
And not till sable gloom had grown 
And inky night o'er all was thrown 
The king the well-known signal gave 
That stops the toil that fills the grave; 
And not till then his heroes cease 
The woi'k that gives the night to peace, 
And slowly from the field of fight 
His ranks retire for the night, 
Seek food and drink and rest, repose, 
What toil to weary nature owes. 
And from that dreary field of toil, 
Where reeking blood bedews tlie soil, 
The hoary Prophet of the .Siirine 
Brings from the field each Roman line ; 
Beside the ocean's sounding coast 
He leads the remnant of his host 
For drink and food and sleep and rest, 
Those things that soothe us mortals best, 
And soon ai-ound both friends and foes 
Seem lying in a deep repose. 



XT. 

A voice comes unto our ears 
Sad as the sounds of other j^ears ; 
It rises on the winds of night 
From whence is seen yon feeble liglit 
Watch-fires cast upon the gloom, 



ARTELOISE. 259 

Hard by a mossy, ancient tomb ; 

And there some human forms appear 

Whose faces dole and sorrow wear, 

And there upon the gory green 

A wounded maiden knight is seen. 

Beside her, bow'd with grief and pain, 

With eyes of woe, is Beau de Main ; 

And at her side King Arthur bends. 

Witli balms her ghastly wound he tends, 

And strives to stop its gory flow, 

But vain all skill that he can show, 

The gory tide still flows amain, 

And dyes her form with crimson stain. 

A weakness all her sense benumbs. 

And to it all her strength succumbs ; 

But ere the vital spark was flown 

She thus her dying thoughts made known : 

" When all had left King Arthur's hall, 

To battle summon "d at his call, 

From off the walls these arms I d rcw, 

And sheathed myself as here you view, 

And here, disguised, to war I came, 

For love of country, not for fame ; 

To give m}^ life to freedom's cause, 

And not at all for man's applause. 

The hoary Jew to me had told 

There was a prophecy of old 

To this effect : A Roman host 

Should some day land on Britain's coast, 

By Terentius Arlus led, 

One fierce as ever battles bred. 

And styled by some of mortal line 

The sacred Prophet of the Shrine ; 

And he, with fire, blood and sword, 

Should ruin spread o'er Britain broad ; 



260 ARTELOISE. 

Him none should e'er o'ercome in fight, 
Whate'er their skill, whate'er their might, 
Except the hand of maiden knight. 
Her force should o'erthrow him quite, 
Her spear should pierce his bossy shield, 
His breast to it should passage yield ; 
Then she a flaming sword should wield, 
And leave him headless on the field. 
Then would the woes of Britain cease, 
And reign again a lasting peace. 
For this alone to war I came, 
'Twas for my country, not for fame; 
But when I reached this field the sun 
His daily course had almost run ; 
I found behind a serried line 
Of shields the Prophet of the Shrine. 
XJl^on that ridge of blazing steel 
I charged and made it backward reel ; 
Its best on earth I breathless laid, 
And had almost a passage made 
Through all that ridge's gleaming line 
Right to the Prophet of the Shrine, 
When on my helm a hissing stone 
Was hurl'd, and I to earth was thrown, 
With shattered casque and bleeding brow, 
As here you see me lying now. 
May be some maid will do the deed 
Stern fate has not for me decreed. 
Oh I may she quell the tyrant's breath. 
And swift avenge Clotilda's death, 
And all the nation's griefs and woes." 
Slie ceased, and into dread repose 
Her lovely voice sank ever more ; 
A snow-white hue her visage wore, 
Her asliv lips revealed beneath 



AETELOISE. 261 

Her still more white and pearly teeth. 
The king her eyelids gently closed, 
And viewed the face that there reposed ; 
There long and steadfastly he gazed 
Upon that silent face upraised, 
That looked so calm and sweet it seemed 
She only slept and happy dreamed. 
Her lily hands lay on her breast. 
As white as snow, in endless rest ; 
With gory stains her-tresses bright 
Waved sadly in the breeze of night, 
A rigidness lier form o'erspread, 
And Clotilda numbered with the dead. 
Soft pity touched the monarch's soul. 
His tears in secret silence roll, 
Adown his face apace they flow, 
And heaves his breast with manly woe. 
Witli spirit racked with dole and pain 
vBeside her silent sat De Main, 
A gloomy monument of grief. 
No tears would give his woo relief; 
No soothing drops for him would roll 
To ease pent floods within his soul, 
Tliat surged and swell'd beyond control. 
He silent sat and steadfast gazed 
Upon the pale, sweet face upraised 
In speechless lethargy of woe ; 
Died out the frail, fliclcering glow 
The dim watch fires round them threw, 
And night obscured her from their view ; 
And there, amidst the solid gloom, 
She lay all hid as in the tomb. 
But still that knight beside her bowed 
His Iiead, still as a corse in shroud, 
And nothing more of action proved. 



262 ARTELOISE. 

At length by sudden feeling moved 
Her pale, still lips to his he pressed, 
Arnoment's space her form caress'd, 
Then left her to eternal rest, 
And with the king he bent his way 
Where less of gloom around him lay. 

XII. 

They reached the tent of Pellinore, 
Who feasting sat his board before. 
Wide was the tent and long the place, 
A hundred knights might there find space 
To feast, or drink, or dance, or rest. 
As there might suit their natures best. 
With goblet fill'd with ruddy wine, 
That did like liquid amber shine. 
At iiead of his wide, ample board, 
Tiiat well with healthy food was stored, 
In fixed contentment sat the king. 
At times his mirth would loudly ring- 
In fits of laughter, deep and long, 
At jests from those who, feasting, throng 
Around that gay and festive board ; 
For in there sat many a lord 
And knight for prowess known abroad, 
Heroes for courtesy renown'd, 
All warriors of the Table Round. 
So Pellinore, with constant smile, 
Look'd happ3', feasting there the while. 
Tall was his form, and deep and broad, 
And limbs with frame did well accord ; 
Each si)acious hand and giant limb 
Showed him in war a foeman grim, 
And over all his face appeared 



ARTELOISE. 263 

A thick and just as red a beard 

As ever 3et the dye of blood 

Has tinged th'b earth or rolling flood ; 

With just so bright, so red a hue 

O'er all his head his tresses grew ; 

Yet comely was his face the while, 

And ever wore good-natured smile. 

"Welcome, bold knights!" he loudly cried, 

As he the coming twain espied ; 

" Welcome to mirth, and wine and food, 

And cheer jour nature's weary mood. 

These are the things that God has given 

To us He has in exile driven. 

So we can taste with mortal breath 

The joys that cometh after death. 

Mirth, food, good wine, are sacred gifts, 

Each from the soul all sorrow lifts, 

E'en pain to other quarters shifts. 

When these by men are rightlj' used, 

And neither one too much abused." 

XIII. 

Deep drank King Arthur of the wine, 

And praised the vintage of the vine, 

And amply ate he of the food 

Till he had eased his hungry mood. 

But Beau de Main sat there the while 

Nor joined in either laugh or smile, 

And scarcely touched of food or wine 

Until the king thus spoke : " Resign 

Thy sorrow for th}' country's sake, , 

And of re-strengthening food partake, 

So that thy arms within the fray 

That surely comes with morning's ray 



264 ARTELOISE. 

Be strong- as they were yesterday." 

To which the sorrowing knight replied : 

" I have enough ; I ne'er denied 

My nature rest, and drink and food 

Sufficient for its wearj^ mood ; 

But when a boy my sire taught 

The greatest sin that man e'er wrought 

Was in vile gluttony to deal, 

And eat too much at any meal; 

And that the too much use of wine 

Makes all man's faculties supine ; 

Weakens his form, his limbs and brain, 

Unnerves the blood in every vein. 

So from gluttony I forbear, 

Nor let it 'mongst my sins appear." 

To this the king returned : " chief. 

Is there no solace for thy grief? 

I now with thine own words will teach 

And show thee what thou can't impeach. 

Thou art a glutton, soul and mind, 

Great as any in the land we'll find ; 

Though not in food and drink 'tis shown, 

And pleasures unto mortals known. 

But none like thee the crime can show ; 

Thou art a glutton in thy woe — 

As much a glutton in thy grief 

As any gormandizing chief. 

Who on a full-grown deer doth dine. 

And swallows down a butt of wine. 

Then spreads himself on earth supine, 

Insensible as leaf on vine. 

Thou art a glutton in thy woe ; 

Rouse thee, man I thy gluttony forego 1 " 



ARTELOISE. 265 



XIV. 



While thus together spoke the twain, 
And Arthur strove to soothe his pain, 
The rest around the festive board 
Ate free, and down the red wine poured. 
Theirs was a hale and jolly host, 
And all drank deep to jest or toast. 
Though he a king to battle trained, 
Whose soul ne'er thovight of fear contained, 
Whose prowess had, in deadly fray, 
Slain fiercest giants of his day. 
Uprooted all their might and sway. 
He led the way to feast and drink ; 
And why should any hero shrink 
Who sat around that festive board 
To take example from its lord? 
Like him, away all care the}' threw, 
If any such their bosoms knew, 
And laughed at danger, woe and pain, 
And all that stalks in sorrow's train. 
O'er coming ills they could not fret, 
Those ills must first by them be met ; 
And not till Fate the time had set 
Would the}' release or void a debt. 
Enough for the ills was the day 
Those evils should master the way, 
Eat, drink and be merr}', for why 
Not live happy and happily die ? 
Cling unto life, nor give up your breath 
Till ye have had a tussel with death. 
Show him you can die like a man, 
With feet to the foe, in the van. 
Though well they knew another day 
Would bring them dreary toil and fray, 



266 ARTELOTSE. 

And many a knight who sat around 
That board woukl there no more be found, 
And would on earth be lying low 
Before another day should go, 
Yet recked Ihey not ; when came the time 
For action, they, with wills sublime. 
In daring hardihood of soul, * 

That could no force but death control. 
Though foes would hew their gory way, 
Do all that knight could do in fraj^, 
Come victorious from the strife, 
Or midst the slaughter yield their life. 
As did the knights in olden time 
While yet was Nature in her prime. 

XV. 

" The foe is sleeping on the coast, 
And sentinels watch well his host ; 
Tristram and Launcelot de Lake, 
Dagonet, Trol and Lamorake, 
And many a hero trained in fight 
Keep well their watch o'er him to-night. 
No fear that he will 'mongst us rise 
And take us by the least surprise. 
So let us pass the night in mirth 
As suits the heroes of this earth. 
May ne'er this world of them be dearth 
While women live to give us birth. 
Women who love not the noble race 
Are vagabonds on Nature's face — 
Yea, unto manhood soi'e disgrace ; 
Who lives apart from them, alone, 
And never weds is but a drone, 
A worthless lump of flesh and bone, 
To Nature's noblest joys unknown. 



ABTELOISE. 261 

I love them all, both young and old, 
E'en should their faults be manifold, 
Their natures either warm or cold, 
Their manners modest, coy or bold, 
There's something good in every soul, 
True kindness through their natures roll. 
If men will half-way treat them right 
They'd be all angels rosy bright. 
Joy in his mate should man behold, 
Ne'er see her frown, nor hear her scold. 
Now ye all shall judge how Pellinore 
Can sing ; the song's a tale of yore — 
Way back within the ancient time, 
While yet were all things in their prime, 
And all bloomed lovely in her clime, 
Ere silvered were her locks with rime, 
A castle stood midst waving wood 

High on an airy hill ; 
Its lofty halls had marble walls 
And built with choicest skill. 
Its mighty lord had shoulders broad 
And limbs both lithe and strong. 
And night and day a vast array 

Of knights did round him throng. 
O'er all the earth his dee<ls of worth 

Were told in tale and song ; 
All those in need to him would speed, 

He righted all their wrong. 
A daughter fair, with golden hair. 

Did unto him belong ; 
Her rosy cheek did health bespeak, 

And all of Beauty's charms ; 
A swan-like neck did her bedeck, 
And plump, round, snowy arms; 



268 ARTELOISE. 

Her heaving breast like billow's crest 

When o'er it foam Avreaths ride, 
And racing storms the sea deforms 

And roll it in their pride. 
No fairer brow from then till now 

Did realms of beauty show ; 
No fairer hand in Nature's land 

Has ever bent a bow, 
E'er drew its thong, all tough and strong, 

And from it shaft did throw ; 
No fairer hand on sea or land 

O'er strings of harps have strayed. 
And proved each string a sounding thing 

That soothing music made. 
Harmonies her soul and mind control. 

In her all else eclipse ; 
They danced apace o'er brow and face. 

And breathed upon her lips ; 
Beam'd from her arms and all her charms, 

And e'en her finger tips ; 
And from her tread that lighter sped 

Than any fairy skips. 
No sweeter voice did e'er rejoice 

O'er human good and weal, 
Sang nobler rhymes of olden times 

When heroes all were leal, 
And maidens fair could danger dare 

And love for true knight feel. 
Her sunny eyes, like clear, calm skies, 

Were azure in their hue ; 
And Faith of eld for mirror held 

An eye of spotless blue. 
Her fairy feet were light and fleet 

As is the zephyr's breath 



ARTELOISE. 269 

Sighing at night o'er lilies white, 

When storms are hushed in death 
\ Inez her name, and far her fame 

O'er Christendom was blown ; 
For deeds of good and hardihood 

O'er earth the maid was known. 
The chase loAed she, o'er moor and lea 

She sought the bounding roe, 
O'er glen and hill, o'er stream and rill, 

Where'er a maid might go. 

XVI. 

From lands of snow, where tempests blow, 

And half the j'ear is ice, 
From Lochlin's land, whose frozen strand 

The Polar blasts entice ; 
The chilly soil that to no toil 

Will yield the wliolesome rice, 
Where stately pines crown tall inclines 

Instead of palms and spice ; 
The barren clime that grows no lime, 

No olive and no myrrh, 
Where oaks are seen of stately mien, 

Gum, poplar, elm and fir ; 
But still each field will ampl}' yield 

The waving corn and vine. 
The luscious grape, of perfect shape, 

That gives the ruddy wine ; 
The best of food, that cheers the mood 

Of those who hunger kriow. 
This northern clime, in summer time, 

Will for its children grow ; 
And when return the tempests stern 

And falls the winter's snow. 



270 ARTELOISE. 

Both corn and deer and best of cheer 

Those northern children show ; 
There roses grow and sweetly blow 

When summer breathes in prime, 
Violets bloom with sweet perfume 

As in a warmer clime ; 
There maidens dwell whose charms excel 

Those where no snow is seen, 
Whose hearts are pure and cased as sure 

In mail of virtue sheen 
As any maid that ever strayed 

Through tropic lands of green, 
And, as the maid of sunny glade 

Tlieir love is just as keen ; 
All craft}^ wiles and subtle s'miles 

They spurn with stern disdaiu, 
To thosj are proof as rocky roof 

To winter's storm and rain ; 
And there are found o'er all its round 

Men just as brave and bold 
In danger's time and battle's prime 

As dwell in lands less cold, 
Who fear no storm nor demon form, 

Nor force of wizard's arm. 
Who o'er their course their way will force 

In spite of wizard's charm ; 
Whose hearts are pure, whose loves enciure 

In spite of changing time. 
And though all youthful charms have fled. 
And every other passion dead, 

That love is in its prime — 
From out this land of frozen strand. 

Where montlis the tempests blow, 
The realm of pines and steep inclines, 

Where half the year is snow, 



ARTELOISE. 271 

A hero came whose mighty name 

Yet still is known on earth: 
He sowed the seeds of manly deeds, 

Of prowess and of worth. 
Siiran his name, where'er he came 

The oppress VI wonld round him throng, 
For swift was he, on land or sea, 

To smite down crime and wrong. 
To Corcul's halls of marble walls 

The Northern hero came; 
Ilis daughter fair, with golden hair, 

Had brought that knight of fame. 
Not as a knight arra^-ed for fight. 

All sheathed in gleaming mail, 
With spear and shield for listed field, 

And trimmed for knight's assail. 
He came to woo the lovely maid : 

He came as bard, with harp in hand 
For well he knew that maiden bade 

No knight to wield the spear and brand 
For her in horrid battle toil ; 

She loved no sound of fierce turmoil. 
The din of arms possess'd no charms 

To win from her a smile ; 
The trumpet's breath and field of death 

Could not her soul beguile. 
No knight on earth, whate'er his worth 

In deadly feats of arms. 
Could woo her smile or love the while. 

Or win those lovel3^ charms. 
No blasts of war should ever sound 
Throughout nor o'er the vast Av<;rld round ^ 

If she but had her will ; 
Strong peace should all the nations bind. 



272 AHTELOISE. 

Unite tbem heart and soul and mind, 
And love be their worst ill. 

XVII. 

All adamantine chains and Lands, 

Nor yet the hardest walls of stone 
E'er forged or built by human hands 

Since ever yet was Nature known, 
Would all be vain to hold or chain 

And keep atwain two human hearts 
When love o'er them begins to reign ; 

Their souls are pierced with Cu2)id's darts. 
The maid the Northern hero saw, 

And on the bard with love she smiled ; 
And love his breakless chain did draw 

Around the bard and Corcul's child. 
Unknown to all within those halls 

Their vows of love they daily swore, 
And a mutual love enthralls 

The twain and binds them more and more. 
But had the haughty Corcul known 

The bard found favor in her eyes, 
Though he was king of Lochliu's throne, 

And there a bard but in disguise, 
He swift had cut that wooing short; 

For he had sworn a solemn vow 
No prince or king of any court. 

Who dwelt or ruled on Nature's brow 
And that no man of mortal line 

Should win his daugiiter for liis bride ; 
Tliat she a nun by vestal shrine 

Should live, no matter what betide. . 
No pains and throes nor joys and woes 

Attendant aye on wedded life 



ARTELOISE. 273 

His cUlld should feel, but should repose 

In convent from all mortal strife. 
A thousand men in armor bright, 

And brave as ever couched a spear, 
As ever drew the sword for fight 

Or stemmed their foemen's fierce career, 
Had come to woo the lovely maid ; 

But all to woo had come in vain : 
The stern sire the child obeyed, 

And treated all with cool disdain. 
In vain they came to woo a bride 

By skillful feats in deadly arms ; 
On such she smiled with scorn of pride, 

For her grim battles had no charms. 
But he who came with harp and song, 

Wlio sang the minstrel's stirring lay, 
And told of peace, themes that belong 
To love alone, not blood and wrong, 

How charging knights to carnage throng, 
And reel amidst the grisly fray. 

Within her woke a love so strong 
It never knew through life decay, 
But, night by night and day by day. 
It ever grew with brighter ray. 

XVIII. 

'Twas on a warm and lovely morn, 

Tlie winds were blowing free, 
And fast the wreaths of foam were born 

Out of the travailing sea. 
From off the land athwart the main 

The stirring breezes blow, 
And high in air lilce flying rain 

Their sprays the billows throw. 

Swift unto the favoring gales 
18 



274 ARTELOISE. 

Has Suran spread his snow}^ sails, 

With Inez by his side ; 
To Lochlin's realms of ice and snow, 
Where half the year the tempests blow, 

He bears his blushing bride. 
In vain has Corcul's eager host 
Pursued the lovers to the coast. 

In vain they looking stand, 
For there is not a single bark 
To bear them o'er those waters stark 

In sight of their command ; 
Powerless all, they stand and eye 
The 3'outhful lovers onward fly 

Still further from the land. 
In vain does haughty Corcul call 
Across the billows' rise and fall, 

His daughter does not heed ; 
Still onward o'er the rolling seas 
They fly before the faA'oring breeze 

Till from his sight they speed. 
And nothing rises there to view 
But rolling seas that whiter grew • 
But still that sire's eager eye 
And all his host that gathered nigh 
There kept their searching gaze still cast 
Upon the course that bark had past, 
Until the shades of coming night 
Obscured the waters from their sight. 
Till nought they saw except the gloom 
That swarthed the waters like a tomb. 
And nought they heard except the flow 
Of waters on the rocks below. 



ARTELOISE. 275 



XIX. 



As a flood that still onward sweeps 
And bears its waves to unknowi^ dee| 
And eternal still the same appears, 
Such is the onward stream of 3-ears, 
It doth no sign of ceasing show. 
And never shall an ending know. 
And as the fleeting ^-ears of time 
Drove on their chariot sublime, 

From the union of that happy pair 
Ten noble sons and daughters came, 
All worthy of their noble name ; 

Worthy of the sire that they heir, 
And all worthy of his loving dame. 
When fleeting time had sped apace 
And Corcul saw the noble race 
That from that happy anion grew 
Aside his heart all anger throw. 
True joy absorbed all grief and dole 
And anger from his martial soul, 
And dried them up, as doth the sun 
The dews o'er which his beams are spun 
And in his soul he blest the day 
The bard had borne his child away; 
Far nobler was to her that life — 
A loving mother, joyous wife, 
Her spirit ever teeming rifp 
With domestic blisses, void of strife; 
With husband ever true and kind, 
To every imperfection blind, 
If such within her he did find. 
Her home, with children plnying round, 
Was the blest convent she had found — 
The noblest, purest, brightest shrine 



270 ARTELOISE. 

E'er kneel'd before by human line; 
The grandest altar on the earth 
Of godly purity and worth 
Was in that home, and she the nun, 
The sacred vestal, spotless one, 
Who doth no single duty shun ; 
Oh I may her life forever run 
In love and jo}', as it begun. 
And be a never clouded sun," 

XX. 

Here ceased the tale, but riot a sound 
Of thanks rose from the knights around ; 
Not that the tale was dull and tame, 
Or in the least way halt and lame, 
From them no thanks or praises came ; 
Not that any of that knightly throng 
Loved not the sound of stirring soiig ; 
It was not there from such a cause 
That Pellinore won no applause. 
But weary nature, not the wine 
That glowed in bowls with ruddy shine, 
Made hero's voice such silence keep, 
For every knight Avas sound asleep. 

XXI. 

The stirring trump and braying fife 
Awake the hosts to morn and strife. 
And ere on hills the sunbeam shines 
Tlie ranks are form'd in battle-lines, 
Witli some on foot and some on horse . 
King Arthur raarslials all liis force. 
Far on the left down to the coast 
The sturdy footmen take their post, 
And there a circling column form, 



ARTELOISE. 277 

Like clouds that gather for a storm, 
Whose edges all with flame are bright 
And cast around redundant light ; 
With serried shields and bi'istling spears, 
And axe that polished surface wears, 
And mace that knotty head uprears, 
A horrid line that ridge appears, 
As forming there for deadly strife. 
Midst war-horn's blasts and braying fife, 
And all the sounds that wake to life 
The knight for deeds with carnage rife. 

XXII. 

Far to the right the knights on horse 
In one long column form their force ; 
Far down unto the ocean's coast, 
A gleaming line, they take their post, 
And there wall in the Roman host. 
Between the lines of foot and horse 
The archers gather all their force, 
And those who used the sling alone 
That hurled with force the hissing stone 
Made there a strong and goodly show 
'Mongst those who bent the sounding bow. 
And slingmen, archers, foot and horse 
Still gradually close up their force, 
Still closer wall the Romans round 
At every move and stir and sound, 
As some huge snake that starts his coil 
Round prey, and closer brings the toil, 
Still nearer, nearer drawing round 
Until the crushing toil is wound. 
So, circling all their Roman foes, 
Those nearino- lines of Britain close. 



2T8 ARTELOISE. 



XXIII. 



Meanwhile the Prophet of the Shrine 

Had formed his ranks in battle-line ; 

In phalanx placed and hollow squares 

His host all o'er the field appears ; 

With bristling spears and serried shields 

They glitter dreadful o'er the fields ; 

For over visors polished bright, 

And morions of beamy light 

And swords that flaming lustres show 

The rising morning sunbeams glow, 

Till all that Roman host became 

A blinding sea of moving flame. 

In centre of a phalanx line 

On steed the Prophet of the Shrine 

Rode, armed with only shield and sword, 

And nowhere 'mongst his arni}-^ broad 

Another living steed was seen ; 

All they had rode ere came yestreen 

Had there been 'mongst the cai'nage slain, 

Or by the daring Britons ta'en ; 

So all on foot their columns move, 

Their victory or death to prove. 



XXIV. 

As seas assault their rocky banks 
The foes closed in on Arthur's ranks ; 
As flies the spray when on the rock 
The billows come with deafening shock 
So shattered swords and splintered spears 
Fly where the British line appears, 
And dreadful sound the blow and thrust 
Amidst the clouds of rising dust. 



ARTELOISE. 279 

This way and that the columns reel 
Amidst unceasing clang of steel ; 
Yet still they fight and charge amain 
And dye the earth with gory stain, 
Till o'er the hills the rolling sun 
Across the noonday line has run, 
And scarce his ray can pierce the gloom 
That shrouds that field of strife and doom. 
But sometimes through the dust appears 
Descending swords and thrusting spears, 
And sometimes through the dust is seen 
A morion of polished sheen, 
And through the dark and stagnant air 
No single breath of wiuds repair, 
They not enough of strength would prove 
The aspen's trembling leaf to move, 
Nor it to slightest motion beat ; 
And all the air with stifling heat 
Is fill'd, around those armies cast 
Oppressive as a furnace blast. 

XXV. 

Before that grisly phalanx line, 
Where rode the Prophet of the Shrine, 
Three mighty forms in arms appear, 
And hew down man and shield and spear. 
But vain their toil, the Roman ranks 
Unceasing fill the ghastly blanks ; 
Fresh warriors rise as from the ground, 
And fast their Prophet circle round. 
Though dread his sword King Arthur plied 
And made the breaches grim and wide, 
And though the sword of Beau De Main 
Cut helm and head and man in twain, 



280 ARTELOISE. 



And though the mace of Pellinore 
Spread round a sea of brains and gore, 
Yet still before those mighty Three 
No Roman from the fight doth flee, 
But good again they make their line, 
Wall in the Prophet of the Shrine, 
Round whom the arrows fly like rain, 
But him to wound they fly in vain ; 
Though clouds of shafts around him sail 
Thick as the storm of driving hail 
When clouds surcharged with heat arise 
And roll with thunders through the skies. 
Rush dreadful on the roaring gale 
And scatter it o'er hill and dale, 
Yet him to harm all vain they prove, 
Of his not e'en a hair they move ; 
Heedless of them, around he rides, 
Unwounded every storm abides ; 
His form from any hurt or harm 
From arrow sped by mortal arm 
Long, long ago did wizards charm. 
Unwounded midst the flying spears 
The hoary Prophet there appears, 
While thus his battling host he cheers : 
" Ye heroes from the land of Rome, 
Where rises Vesta's sacred dome, 
Where, surely jjlaced in Nature's hand, 
The Seven Hills eternal stand. 
Whose flag has ever waved unfurl'd 
In conquest o'er the spacious world ; 
Sons of the race the she-wolf fed, 
Sons of the race the she-wolf bred. 
Your country's foes before you stand, 
Strike and hurl them from the land ; 
Strike deep with axe and spear and sword, 



ARTELOISE. 281 

And o'er the isles of Britain broad 

Tlie sway of Rome shall be restored J 

Strike 1 Britain is your prize ; 

Strike while the heated metal lies 

Upon the an^dl glowing warm 

And it to targe or broadsword form. 

Strike true, strike strong, nor pause nor wait, 

But while 'tis hot forge well your fate ; 

The brave will heed, but coward fools 

Will idle till the metal cools, 

And every chance is void and lost 

To heat again at any cost." 

Scarce the last words his lips had past 

When onward, like a sudden blast 

That rises in a tropic clime, 

Of warning gives no moment's time, 

But onward sweeps upon its course 

With lightning speed and untold force 

With rattling thunders clears its path 

Of all that dares to bar its wrath, 

All things before it fall and die 

And all behind uprooted lie, 

A waste of devastation dread 

Behind its horrid track is spread, 

So sudden and so dreadful came 

On steed a knight of slender frame ; 

All sheathed was he in clanging mail 

As white as snow or frosted hail, 

And full against the horrid line 

That walled the Brophet of the Shrine 

Secure from harm of spear or sword 

That knight and horse made passage broad ; 

Backward to earth the Romans reel. 

And 'neath those horse-hoofs crash their steel; 

Then at the Prophet swift as light 



282 ARTELOISE. 

With levelled spear rode on the knight ; 

That spear through shield and Pi'ophet tore, 

Through heart and lungs the weapon bore, 

And dripping red and grim with blood 

Sent out behind a crimson flood.. 

To earth the stricken Prophet falls, 

But vainly he for mercy calls ; 

The strange knight draws his sword amain, 

And cuts the Prophet's neck in twain ; 

In air the hoary head is tost, 

And, falling, midst the carnage lost. 

XXVI. 

Then dreader still the battle grew, 
And shaft around unearthly flew, 
Hugo hissing stones in showers sail 
And fly through air like blasts of hail ; 
On every side sound storms of blows, 
And everj^where the battle grows, 
And on all sides the foes assail 
The stranger knight in snow-white mail ; 
Though for his aid those mighty Three 
Give all their strength and prowess free, 
Yet midst the storm of ceaseless blows 
That still more busy round him grows 
He falls upon the gory plain 
And numbered 'mongst the ghastly slain. 
Then shook the earth, and from the air 
The shrouding clouds of dust repair; 
The sun looks through the moving gloom. 
Reveals that field of strife and doom. 
From earth before that stranger knight 
The form of Merlin rose to sight, 
A horrid groan the wizard made 



ARTELOISE. 2S3 

As he that stranger knight surveyed, 
Who there so still midst carnage laid, 
All in his snow-white steel arrayed. 
Merlin his banner then unfurled, 
That flag the wonder of the world •, 
Which had the skill of wizards wrought, 
And it with strange devices fraught. 
A thousand forms that standard shows, 
And each with living instinct glows, 
And divers awful shapes are seen 
O'er all that magic banner sheen; 
And hues of gold, blue, red and green 
Rise up those awful shapes between. 
And waves that flag in windless air, 
Where did no breath of breeze repair, 
As though a roaring storm were there, 
Through space was rushing anyAvhere. 
Then spake the seer: "Ye knights renown'd 
Ye heroes of the Table Round, 
On, on! and make the Romans see 
How ye will die or still be free I 
On, on, ye knights 1 one onslaught moi'e, 
And tramp the tyrants in their gore, 
Or drive them from your native shore, 
And i)eace unto your land restore. 
Ursula is of life bereft, 
No cliild have I now living left. 
'Tis she, the knight in armor Avhite, 
Who overthrew the Prophet's might. 
Alas ! that I should see the day 
Grim death should seize her for his prey 1 
Oh, cruel Fate ! it drives me wild 
To view in death my child! my child I 
My pride, my glory, my delight ! 
My sun by day, my star by night I 



284 ARTELOISE. 

A peerless jewel of this earth, 

Of matchless price and untold worth. 

Oh, cruel Fate, to deal this blow. 

And overwhelm me thus with woe ! 

To rive me thus with anguish wild ! 

Oh, my dead daughter 1 oh, my child 1 

But, oh 1 my child, thy deed sublime 

Shall last unto the end of time ; 

Thy fame shall crown the poet's verse, 

He'll o'er the world thy praise rehearse I 

Though thou art whelmed by death, to whom 

Has cruel Fate sent different doom ? 

All are its pre}^, the high, the low, 

And victims all through life of woe. 

Now, on, 3'e chiefs 1 avenge her death 

To 3^our last blow, last step, last breath. 

On, on! for Merlin leads the way, 

And ye shall conquer in this fray. 

XXVII. 

Then round their foes the Britons close, 
And vainly they the charge oppose. 
Down, down, amidst the mud and gore, 
The Romans fall, to rise no more. 
The knights on horse upon them ride, 
And vainly they the shock abide. 
Down, down upon tlie gory plain 
'Neath steeds the foes are trod and slain. 
Many a Roman knight doth stain 
The horse hoofs with his reeking brain. 
Down, down to earth thej^ (ly^^S" f'^l^ 
And vainl}' there for mercy call. 
They fight till all the Roman hordes 
Have sank beneath their dripping swords. 



ARTELOISE. 285 

And noi: a Roman there is left 

Who is not of his life bereft. 

They fight till all their horde of foes 

Are sleeping in a grim repose, 

Till not a breathing foe is found 

Amidst that reeking carnage round 

Who will to Rome the story bear 

How Arthur's knights can ply the spear ; 

How they in war the sword can wield, 

All weapons of the battle-field ; 

How they can guard tlieir native shore, 

And keep her free forevermore ; 

How they tear down the flags unfurl'd 

By all the tyrants of the world. 

XXVIII. 

There came a dread, unearthly sound, 
That echoed all that land aroand, 
And from the field of slaughter piled 
Grim Merlin lifts his lifeless child, 
Around her form his flag he drew. 
And hid the maiden knight from view. 
As tliis he did the startled air 
Was filled witli darkness dense and drear. 
The gloom but for a moment's space 
O'erwhelmed all Natures smiling face; 
But when it from the air withdrew 
None maiden knight nor seer could view. 
Which way they sped, o'er hill or dell, 
No bi-eathing mortal there could tell ; 
And ne'er again by mortal men 
Have they been seen on hill or glen, 
Or.roam'd t'his world, to mortal ken. 
Like comets dead, that no more burn, 
They ne'er again to sight return. 



286 ARTELOISE 



XXIX 



The sun is fading on the hill, 
His parting rays glow on the rill ; 
The shades of eve creep soft and still, 
And space the misty vapors fill, 
And silence shrouds the field of death, 
Not e'en the zeph3'rs, breathe a breath ; 
A silence reigns o'er field and hill, 
A silence stern and deep and still, 
Which settles like a soothing balm 
That throbbing pains of bruises calm. 
With weary form and aching brow 
Lie nigh all who are living now ; 
The strife of those two days has shorn 
Their strength, with toil has all o'er worn. 
Down on the field amongst the slain 
They rest till they their strength regain, 
Nor food they seek, the two days' toil 
Their zest for food and drink doth soil ; 
Sweet sleep is all they ask or crave. 
Best boon to flesh e'er Nature gave. 
Soothes the senses, restores the breath, 
Sweet Sleep, twin brother unto Death. 

XXX. 

The densest shades of sable night 
Have hidden vale and mountain height. 
No star within the sky is seen, . 
Black clouds lie earth and sky between ; 
Though Nature cast her pall of gloom 
To shrouil with darkness of the tomb, 
Though here and there a feeble glow 
Watch-fires did to-night bestow, 
Yet all so pale they shone — their light 



ARTELOISE. 281 

Wiis scarcely seen amidst the night ; 
And scarce revealed amidst the gloom 
Two kings beside a mossy tomb, 
Where slept below in rest sublime 
A mighty chief of ancient time. 
All clad in armor stained with gore 
Those kings kneel doAvn the tomb before; 
One holds a grisly iron mace, 
Whose brightness stains of blood deface ; 
The other holds a might}' sword, 
With blood spread o'er its surface broad. 
One's Arthur of the Table Round, 
One Pellinore, for strength renowned. 
Kneeling, those heroes silent clasp 
Each other's hand within their grasp : 
To Him who rules the flood and storm, 
Tlie thunder rolls, the lightnings form, 
Who spread the stars through endless space , 
And gave the moon and planets place ; 
Who made the sun, with all his beams. 
And space through which his glory streams ; 
He who from nothing formed this earth, 
And who from dust gave man his birth; 
He who created light and life, 
Filled earth with germs of vintage rife; 
The God who rules earth, space and sky. 
Through whom all live, and breathe and die, 
Those heroes breathed their heartfelt prayers 
Thanked Him that victorj^ was theirs. 

XXXI. 

Off from the field of reeking slain, 
Beside a rock, is Beau De Main, 
And there Griselda, worn and pale, 
Sits, grasping still the Holy Grail. 
She sits her chosen knight beside, 



288 ARTELOISE. 

Her soul's own idol and its pride ; 
His voice is breathing in her ear, 
A voice she'd ever loved to hear, 
And still shall love whate'er befall 
The mortals on this earthly ball ; 
Yes, love through every turn of fate, 
Through every varied change and state, 
Through every bliss and pain and woe 
That mortal here can feel or know. 

XXXTI. 

Why lengthen out my closing rhjme 
With a long wooing at this time? 
The deathless Jew beside them drew ; 
He well their thoughts. and Avishes knew ; 
Their hands within his own he caught, 
And both their hands together brouglit, 
Some words he muttered on the air 
That seem'd to sound like voice of prayer ; 
And then he straight a blessing sped 
O'er both the knight and maiden's head, 
And spake he : " I pronounce ye wed ; 
I am a Rabbi. What I have done 
None shall undo while time shall run." 
Tlien sudden from the gazing pair 
He vanished, melted into air, 
As doth the meteor's flash of light 
That dies upon the brow of night, 
And leaves no trace amidst the dark 
To show where fell the glowing spark. 
One by one each watch-fire's ray 
In solid darkness past away, 
Left not behind a single si)avk 
To cheer the midnight damp and dark. 
And gloom, all void of stir and noise. 
Sank dense and stern o'er Artelotse. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

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